Predictors of positive and negative appraisal among Cuban American caregivers of Alzheimer's disease patients.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigated predictors of positive (satisfaction) and negative (burden) appraisal among Cuban American (CA) caregivers of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study of AD patients and their family caregivers.


METHODS
A university-affiliated outpatient memory disorders clinic.


METHODS
A convenience sample of 40 CA family caregivers of patients diagnosed with probable or possible AD according to NINCDS-ADRDA diagnostic criteria.


METHODS
AD patients: Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Blessed Dementia Scale (BDS) and the Behavioral Pathology in Alzheimer's Disease Rating Scale (BEHAVE-AD). Caregivers: Caregiving Burden Scale (CBS), Caregiving Satisfaction Scale (CSS), Perceived Emotional Support scale (PES) and the Short Form-36 Health Survey-General Health Index (GH).


RESULTS
Appraised burden was predicted by increased patient behavioral pathology, female caregiver gender and lower levels of perceived emotional support. The association between older caregiver age and increased burden approached significance. Older caregiver age and higher levels of perceived social support were shown to predict appraised satisfaction. Post-hoc analyses also indicated that length of residence in the United States, a measure of acculturation, was not associated with positive or negative appraisal.


CONCLUSIONS
Appraised burden and satisfaction represent important outcomes of dementia care that show relations with distinct factors among CA caregivers. It is clear that further research is warranted in order to ascertain the relationship of ethnicity or culture to the process and psychological consequences of dementia caregiving. Continued investigations into predictors of caregiving satisfaction are also recommended.
Harwood
D G
DG
The Wien Center for Alzheimer's Disease and Memory Disorders, Mount Sinai Medical Center, Miami Beach, FL 33140, USA.
Barker
W W
WW
Ownby
R L
RL
Bravo
M
M
Aguero
H
H
Duara
R
R
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012944:Social Support