Social problem-solving abilities, relationship satisfaction and depression among family caregivers of stroke survivors.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the prospective relation of caregiver problem-solving abilities and relationship satisfaction to caregiver depression 1 month following care recipient discharge from an inpatient stroke rehabilitation facility.


METHODS
Correlational, prospective design.


METHODS
Participants included 39 women (average age = 51.47, SD = 20.59) and four men (average age = 42.50, SD = 5.57) assuming caregiver roles for persons discharged from stroke rehabilitation.


METHODS
The Beck Depression Inventory was the outcome measure at discharge and 1 month later.


RESULTS
Caregivers experienced a significant decrease in depression scores between the discharge and 1-month assessments. Lower relationship satisfaction and dysfunctional problem-solving abilities were independently and significantly predictive of depression scores at discharge. Dysfunctional problem-solving abilities were indirectly predictive of depression 1 month later.


CONCLUSIONS
Dysfunctional problem-solving abilities and low relationship satisfaction are associated with caregiver depression, but dysfunctional problem-solving abilities maintain an indirect association with depression over 1 month. Implications of these findings for developing problem-solving training programmes for caregivers post-discharge are discussed.
Shanmugham
Kalpana
K
Capital H Group, 3155 West Big Beaver Road, Troy, MI 48084, USA. kalpana.shanmugham@capitalhgroup.com
Cano
Miguel A
MA
Elliott
Timothy R
TR
Davis
Matthew
M
D000328:Adult; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020521:Stroke / Q000523:psychology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation