TY - JOUR
T1 - Self-efficacy for managing dementia may protect against burden and depression in Alzheimer's caregivers
AU - Gallagher, Damien
AU - Mhaolain, Aine Ni
AU - Crosby, Lisa
AU - Ryan, Deirdre
AU - Lacey, Loretto
AU - Coen, Robert F.
AU - Walsh, Cathal
AU - Coakley, Davis
AU - Walsh, J. Bernard
AU - Cunningham, Conal
AU - Lawlor, Brian A.
PY - 2011/8
Y1 - 2011/8
N2 - Background: Self-efficacy is the belief that one can perform a specific task or behaviour and is a modifiable attribute which has been shown to influence health behaviours. Few studies have examined the relationship between self-efficacy for dementia-related tasks and symptoms of burden and depression in caregivers. Methods: Eighty four patient/caregiver dyads with Alzheimer's disease were recruited through a memory clinic. Patient function, cognition and neuropsychiatric symptoms were assessed together with caregiver burden, personality, depressive symptoms, coping strategies and self-efficacy for completing tasks related to dementia care. Results: 33% (28) of caregivers reported significant depressive symptoms (CES-D≥10). In multivariate analyses, caregiver burden was predicted by self-efficacy for symptom management, neuroticism, patient function and neuropsychiatric symptoms while caregiver depression was predicted by self-efficacy for symptom management, caregiver educational level, neuroticism, emotion-focused coping, dysfunctional coping and patient function. In patients with moderate to severe impairment (MMSE≤20), self-efficacy for symptom management behaved as a mediator between patient neuropsychiatric symptoms and symptoms of burden and depression in caregivers. Conclusions: Further longitudinal investigation is warranted to determine if self-efficacy might be usefully considered a target in future interventional studies to alleviate symptoms of burden and depression in Alzheimer's caregivers.
AB - Background: Self-efficacy is the belief that one can perform a specific task or behaviour and is a modifiable attribute which has been shown to influence health behaviours. Few studies have examined the relationship between self-efficacy for dementia-related tasks and symptoms of burden and depression in caregivers. Methods: Eighty four patient/caregiver dyads with Alzheimer's disease were recruited through a memory clinic. Patient function, cognition and neuropsychiatric symptoms were assessed together with caregiver burden, personality, depressive symptoms, coping strategies and self-efficacy for completing tasks related to dementia care. Results: 33% (28) of caregivers reported significant depressive symptoms (CES-D≥10). In multivariate analyses, caregiver burden was predicted by self-efficacy for symptom management, neuroticism, patient function and neuropsychiatric symptoms while caregiver depression was predicted by self-efficacy for symptom management, caregiver educational level, neuroticism, emotion-focused coping, dysfunctional coping and patient function. In patients with moderate to severe impairment (MMSE≤20), self-efficacy for symptom management behaved as a mediator between patient neuropsychiatric symptoms and symptoms of burden and depression in caregivers. Conclusions: Further longitudinal investigation is warranted to determine if self-efficacy might be usefully considered a target in future interventional studies to alleviate symptoms of burden and depression in Alzheimer's caregivers.
KW - Alzheimer's disease
KW - Caregiver burden
KW - Depression
KW - Self-efficacy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79955850287&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/13607863.2011.562179
DO - 10.1080/13607863.2011.562179
M3 - Article
C2 - 21547745
AN - SCOPUS:79955850287
SN - 1360-7863
VL - 15
SP - 663
EP - 670
JO - Aging and Mental Health
JF - Aging and Mental Health
IS - 6
ER -