UNLABELLED: Despite widespread use of caregiver burden and depressive symptoms in caregiving research, the relationship between these two concepts and the way in which burden and depressive symptoms are affected are not clear. METHODS: The authors used structural equation modeling with an inception cohort of 488 family caregivers to examine the relationship between care recipients' mental and functional status and recency of care demands and caregivers' burden and depressive symptoms. RESULTS: Care recipients' mental and functional status and recency of care demands predicted caregiver burden; burden, in turn, was nearly significant in predicting depressive symptoms. Care recipients' mental status and recency of care demands had a near significant indirect effect on caregiver depressive symptoms. There were no significant direct paths between care recipients' mental status, functional status, recency of care demands, and caregivers' depressive symptoms. DISCUSSION: Health care practitioners should assist caregivers with new care demands stemming from care recipients' mental and functional status to decrease burdens and should monitor caregivers with higher levels of burden for the development of depressive symptoms.
UNLABELLED: Despite widespread use of caregiver burden and depressive symptoms in caregiving research, the relationship between these two concepts and the way in which burden and depressive symptoms are affected are not clear. METHODS: The authors used structural equation modeling with an inception cohort of 488 family caregivers to examine the relationship between care recipients' mental and functional status and recency of care demands and caregivers' burden and depressive symptoms. RESULTS: Care recipients' mental and functional status and recency of care demands predicted caregiver burden; burden, in turn, was nearly significant in predicting depressive symptoms. Care recipients' mental status and recency of care demands had a near significant indirect effect on caregiver depressive symptoms. There were no significant direct paths between care recipients' mental status, functional status, recency of care demands, and caregivers' depressive symptoms. DISCUSSION: Health care practitioners should assist caregivers with new care demands stemming from care recipients' mental and functional status to decrease burdens and should monitor caregivers with higher levels of burden for the development of depressive symptoms.
Authors: George Demiris; Debra Parker Oliver; Karla Washington; Lynne Thomas Fruehling; Donna Haggarty-Robbins; Ardith Doorenbos; Hope Wechkin; Donna Berry Journal: J Palliat Med Date: 2010-08 Impact factor: 2.947
Authors: Paula R Sherwood; Heidi S Donovan; Charles W Given; Xiaoli Lu; Barbara A Given; Allison Hricik; Sarah Bradley Journal: Psychooncology Date: 2008-06 Impact factor: 3.894
Authors: Barbara A Swore Fletcher; Karen L Schumacher; Marylin Dodd; Steven M Paul; Bruce A Cooper; Kathryn Lee; Claudia West; Bradley E Aouizerat; Patrick S Swift; William Wara; Christine Miaskowski Journal: Res Nurs Health Date: 2009-04 Impact factor: 2.228