title: The relationship between self-efficacy and positive aspects of caregiving in Alzheimer's disease caregivers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Positive aspects of the caregiving experience may buffer caregivers from the many negative psychological and physical consequences of caregiving. Understanding what factors relate to the recognition of positive aspects of caregiving is important for the enhancement of caregiver well-being. Self-efficacy is a potentially modifiable psychological construct that has been associated with positive thinking, improved control of negative affect, and enhanced motivation.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study examined the relationship between positive aspects of caregiving and self-efficacy among 57 family members caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease. Participant data was gathered through individual interviews conducted as a part of a larger randomized controlled trial of a caregiver intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that self-efficacy accounted for a significant percentage of the variance in positive aspects of caregiving after controlling for other factors commonly associated with positive aspects of caregiving including caregiver demographics, care recipient neuropsychiatric symptoms, and caregiver depression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that high self-efficacy relates to caregivers' perception of positive aspects of the caregiving experience.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychology, Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology, Boston, USA.
authors.forename: Alicia M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Semiatin
authors.forename: Maureen K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: O'Connor
mesh_terms: D000339:Affect; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000451:nursing*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D020377:Self Efficacy