title: Predicting attendance at dementia family support groups.
abstract: This longitudinal study examined the predictors of dementia family caregivers' self-reported attendance at support group meetings over 6 months. First-time attendees were contacted by telephone after their first meeting and assessed for (a) perceptions of similarity between themselves and other members, (b) depressive symptoms, and (c) perceptions of social support from the facilitator and other members. Participants (N = 70) were recontacted 6 months later to obtain self-reports of attendance patterns. Self-reported attendance at any meeting during this follow-up period was predicted by perceived similarity in care recipient's stage of dementia and perceived support from group members as assessed at the first interview. Greater perceived support from group members and fewer depressive symptoms at time 1 predicted a higher frequency of support group attendance over the follow-up period. Results have implications for orienting new support group members as well as training and supporting group facilitators.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Missouri-St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63121, USA. ann_steffen@umsl.edu
authors.forename: Ann M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Steffen
authors.forename: Kristin R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Mangum
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003704:Dementia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D057566:Self Report; D012657:Self-Help Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012944:Social Support