Stressful situations in caregiving: relations between caregiver coping and well-being.
We examined ways in which caregivers cope with stressful caregiving situations and the relations between coping strategies and caregivers' psychosocial well-being. Respondents were 58 family caregivers to patients discharged from a rehabilitation hospital. Caregivers identified a recent stressful event in caregiving and indicated strategies used to cope with this event. After controlling for patients' impairment level, analyses indicated that caregivers engaging in more escape-avoidance coping reported greater depression and more conflict in their personal relationships. Those using more positive reappraisal demonstrated greater positive affect. Younger caregivers, many of whom were women, used more avoidance strategies. Results have implications for therapeutic interventions with family caregivers.
Stephens
M A
MA
Department of Psychology, Kent State University, Ohio 44242.
Norris
V K
VK
Kinney
J M
JM
Ritchie
S W
SW
Grotz
R C
RC
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006701:Home Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012931:Social Environment; D012944:Social Support