BACKGROUND: Recent research into positive experiences in caregivers has begun to redress the traditional focus on negative aspects of caregiving experiences. METHOD: This exploratory study used a cognitive-behavioural approach - namely, the transactional stress model (Lazarus and Folkman, 1984) - to investigate associations between appraisals, coping, and gains over a 6-week period in a small sample (N = 4; case series) design involving stroke caregivers. Analysis involved visual inspection of graphs, supported by descriptive statistics, and co-variation analysis. RESULTS: Participants reported high levels of positive experiences, and these increased over the study period, a previously unreported trend. The study also found individual differences in the interactions between appraisal, coping, and caregiving gain variables, findings explained by the transactional stress model. CONCLUSIONS: Implications for clinical practice and future research are addressed.
BACKGROUND: Recent research into positive experiences in caregivers has begun to redress the traditional focus on negative aspects of caregiving experiences. METHOD: This exploratory study used a cognitive-behavioural approach - namely, the transactional stress model (Lazarus and Folkman, 1984) - to investigate associations between appraisals, coping, and gains over a 6-week period in a small sample (N = 4; case series) design involving stroke caregivers. Analysis involved visual inspection of graphs, supported by descriptive statistics, and co-variation analysis. RESULTS:Participants reported high levels of positive experiences, and these increased over the study period, a previously unreported trend. The study also found individual differences in the interactions between appraisal, coping, and caregiving gain variables, findings explained by the transactional stress model. CONCLUSIONS: Implications for clinical practice and future research are addressed.
Authors: Maria C Norton; Ken R Smith; Truls Østbye; JoAnn T Tschanz; Chris Corcoran; Sarah Schwartz; Kathleen W Piercy; Peter V Rabins; David C Steffens; Ingmar Skoog; John C S Breitner; Kathleen A Welsh-Bohmer Journal: J Am Geriatr Soc Date: 2010-05 Impact factor: 5.562