title: The impact of attachment on dementia-related problem behavior and spousal caregivers' well-being.
abstract: This study investigated the impact of attachment style on the course of dementia-related problem behavior and caregivers' well-being over 2 years. A total of 116 married couples with one spouse suffering from dementia participated. Care recipients' and caregivers' attachment styles were assessed at the beginning of the study. Caregivers' well-being and care recipients' dementia-related problem behavior were assessed three times (n = 68). Husbands' and wives' attachment styles were significantly associated. Caregivers' avoidance and care recipients' insecure attachment style were associated with increased levels of dementia-related problem behavior. Caregivers' avoidance and anxiety were also associated with lower levels of caregivers' well-being. The latent growth curve analysis indicated that problem behavior and attachment style are associated, and that both have direct effects on caregivers' well-being.
authors.affiliation: University of Zurich, Jocobs Center for Productive Youth Development, Zürich, Switzerland. perren@jacobscenter.unizh.ch
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Perren
authors.forename: Regula
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schmid
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Herrmann
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wettstein
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003704:Dementia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009769:Object Attachment; D011596:Psychomotor Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*