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Harsh communication: characteristics of caregivers and persons with dementia
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Harsh communication: characteristics of caregivers and persons with dementia

Darina V. Petrovsky, Justine S. Sefcik, Nancy A. Hodgson and Laura N. Gitlin
Aging & mental health, v 24(10), pp 1709-1716
02 Oct 2020
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2019.1667296
PMID: 31549521
Featured in Collection :   UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
url
https://europepmc.org/articles/pmc7089818View
Accepted (AM)Open Access (License Unspecified),  Open

Abstract

caregiving dementia dyad communication harsh communication Mistreatment NCT01892579
Objectives: While ways to reduce caregiver burden have dominated dementia care research, there is little understanding of daily communication and its relationship to caregiver burden and depression. In this study, we sought to: (1) describe the frequency of harsh communication used by caregivers; (2) examine the relationship between harsh communication, caregiver and person with dementia characteristics; and (3) determine the contributions of caregiver depression and burden on such communication. Method: Cross-sectional baseline data were drawn from 250 dyads, who participated in the Dementia Behavior Study (NCT01892579). Hierarchical linear regression models were used to examine the relationship between dyad characteristics and harsh communication scores (using the 6-item Negative Communication Scale), controlling for three groups of covariates: sociodemographic, relationship characteristics and health factors. Results: More than half of the caregivers (mean age = 65.4, 81.2% women, 45.6% spouses) reported they felt like screaming/yelling (N = 138, 55.2%) or used a harsh tone (N = 129, 51.6%) at persons with dementia (Mini Mental Status Examination mean = 14.3, SD: 7.8) at least sometimes. When controlling for all covariates, for each unit increase in caregiver burden, harsh communication increased by 0.486 units (p < 0.001); similarly, for each unit increase in caregiver depression, harsh communication increased by 0.301units (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Over half of dementia caregivers reported they felt like or used one or more harsh forms of communication. Caregiver burden and depression were incrementally associated with greater use of negative communication. Providing caregivers with knowledge, support and specific communication skills may lessen the frequency of harsh communication and possibly reduce burden and depression.

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9 citations in Web of Science
9 citations in Scopus

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UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#3 Good Health and Well-Being

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Gerontology
Psychiatry
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