title: Caregiving for Parkinson's disease patients: an exploration of a stress-appraisal model for quality of life and burden.
abstract: Extending the 2002 stress-appraisal model of Chappell and Reid, we examined the relationships between caregiver stressors (e.g., cognitive impairment and functional dependency of the recipient), appraisal (informal hours of caregiving), and protective factors (e.g., social support, self-esteem, and quality of the caregiver-recipient relationship) associated with the burden and quality of life of Parkinson's disease caregivers. There were 136 caregivers (M = 64.59 years) who completed an online survey. Using structural equation modeling, we found that the extended stress-appraisal model of Chappell and Reid provided a good fit to the data (chi2 = 67.87, df = 55, p >.05; chi2/df = 1.23, Comparative Fit Index = 0.98, Root Mean Square Error of Approximation = 0.04). This study provides an important contribution to a growing field of research that applies theoretical models to investigate the stressors, appraisals, and protective factors that impact caregiver well-being.
authors.affiliation: Swinburne University of Technology, John St, Hawthorn, Melbourne, Victoria 3122, Australia.
authors.forename: Belinda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Goldsworthy
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Knowles
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010300:Parkinson Disease; D011788:Quality of Life; D012649:Self Concept; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D014739:Victoria