OBJECTIVES: Our purpose was to evaluate the adequacy of a stress adaptation framework for guiding intervention research on caregivers and patients coping with Alzheimer's disease, and to test the effect of a cognitive stimulation intervention as an interactive outcome. METHODS: Using a repeated measures design, 87 caregiver-patient dyads were randomized to one of three conditions: active cognitive stimulation, passive stimulation, or control. Assessments occurred at preintervention, postintervention (3 months), and 9 months. RESULTS: The LISREL model was entirely satisfactory by the chi-square goodness-of-fit criteria. However, the coefficients associated with the paths between the mediating concepts and the dyadic interaction differed significantly at 3 months and 9 months. The intervention group caregivers were shown to be more satisfied with their interaction with the impaired member. DISCUSSION: The improvement in caregiver satisfaction was attributed to an attenuation of the behavioral stressor effects through increased use of a problem-focused coping strategy, namely, positive reappraisal of the stressful situation.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVES: Our purpose was to evaluate the adequacy of a stress adaptation framework for guiding intervention research on caregivers and patients coping with Alzheimer's disease, and to test the effect of a cognitive stimulation intervention as an interactive outcome. METHODS: Using a repeated measures design, 87 caregiver-patient dyads were randomized to one of three conditions: active cognitive stimulation, passive stimulation, or control. Assessments occurred at preintervention, postintervention (3 months), and 9 months. RESULTS: The LISREL model was entirely satisfactory by the chi-square goodness-of-fit criteria. However, the coefficients associated with the paths between the mediating concepts and the dyadic interaction differed significantly at 3 months and 9 months. The intervention group caregivers were shown to be more satisfied with their interaction with the impaired member. DISCUSSION: The improvement in caregiver satisfaction was attributed to an attenuation of the behavioral stressor effects through increased use of a problem-focused coping strategy, namely, positive reappraisal of the stressful situation.
Authors: Richard Schulz; Alison O'Brien; Sara Czaja; Marcia Ory; Rachel Norris; Lynn M Martire; Steven H Belle; Lou Burgio; Laura Gitlin; David Coon; Robert Burns; Dolores Gallagher-Thompson; Alan Stevens Journal: Gerontologist Date: 2002-10