Kenneth I Pakenham1. 1. School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia. kenp@psy.uq.edu.au
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Carers of persons with mental illness engage in many caregiving tasks and spend considerable time on these activities. This caregiving is of immense social and economic value, but often at a high cost to carers. Investigation of the specific caregiving tasks these carers undertake and how these may affect their adjustment has been neglected. PURPOSE: This study examines: (1) the dimensional and psychometric structure of the Caregiving Tasks in Caring for an Adult with Mental Illness Scale (CTiCAMIS), (2) relations between caregiving tasks and various caregiving parameters, and (3) associations between caregiving tasks and adjustment cross-sectionally and over 12 months. METHOD: Participants were 114 carers of adults with a mental illness who completed questionnaires at time 1 and 12 months later (time 2). RESULTS: Factor analyses showed that the CTiCAMIS could be represented by a single dimension or three caregiving domains: instrumental care, activities of daily living care, psychosocial care. The CTiCAMIS factors were psychometrically sound and evidenced differential relations with most carer, care recipient and caregiving context variables, and were correlated with adjustment outcomes concurrently and over 12 months after controlling for initial adjustment. CONCLUSION: Findings delineate the key dimensions of mental health caregiving and show the differential links between caregiving activities and caregiving parameters and carer adjustment.
BACKGROUND: Carers of persons with mental illness engage in many caregiving tasks and spend considerable time on these activities. This caregiving is of immense social and economic value, but often at a high cost to carers. Investigation of the specific caregiving tasks these carers undertake and how these may affect their adjustment has been neglected. PURPOSE: This study examines: (1) the dimensional and psychometric structure of the Caregiving Tasks in Caring for an Adult with Mental Illness Scale (CTiCAMIS), (2) relations between caregiving tasks and various caregiving parameters, and (3) associations between caregiving tasks and adjustment cross-sectionally and over 12 months. METHOD:Participants were 114 carers of adults with a mental illness who completed questionnaires at time 1 and 12 months later (time 2). RESULTS: Factor analyses showed that the CTiCAMIS could be represented by a single dimension or three caregiving domains: instrumental care, activities of daily living care, psychosocial care. The CTiCAMIS factors were psychometrically sound and evidenced differential relations with most carer, care recipient and caregiving context variables, and were correlated with adjustment outcomes concurrently and over 12 months after controlling for initial adjustment. CONCLUSION: Findings delineate the key dimensions of mental health caregiving and show the differential links between caregiving activities and caregiving parameters and carer adjustment.
Authors: Emily Hielscher; Sandra Diminic; Jan Kealton; Meredith Harris; Yong Yi Lee; Harvey Whiteford Journal: Community Ment Health J Date: 2018-02-23