title: Predictors of dementia caregiver depressive symptoms in a population: the Cache County dementia progression study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Previous research has consistently reported elevated rates of depressive symptoms in dementia caregivers, but mostly with convenience samples. This study examined rates and correlates of depression at the baseline visit of a population sample of dementia caregivers (N = 256).
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a modified version of Williams (Williams, I. C. [2005]. Emotional health of black and white dementia caregivers: A contextual examination. The Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 60, P287-P295) ecological contextual model, we examined 5 contexts that have contributed to dementia caregiver depression. A series of linear regressions were performed to determine correlates of depression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Rates of depressive symptoms were lower than those reported in most convenience studies. We found fewer depressive symptoms in caregivers with higher levels of education and larger social support networks, fewer health problems, greater likelihood of using problem-focused coping, and less likelihood of wishful thinking and with fewer behavioral disturbances in the persons with dementia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that depression may be less prevalent in populations of dementia caregivers than in clinic-based samples, but that the correlates of depression are similar for both population and convenience samples. Interventions targeting individuals with small support networks, emotion-focused coping styles, poorer health, low quality of life, and those caring for persons with higher numbers of behavioral problems need development and testing.
authors.affiliation: Correspondence should be addressed to Kathleen Piercy, Department of Family, Consumer, and Human Development, 2905 Old Main Hill, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322-2905. E-mail: kathy.piercy@usu.edu.
authors.forename: Kathleen W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Piercy
authors.forename: Elizabeth B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Fauth
authors.forename: Maria C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Norton
authors.forename: Roxane
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pfister
authors.forename: Chris D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Corcoran
authors.forename: Peter V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Rabins
authors.forename: Constantine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lyketsos
authors.forename: JoAnn T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Tschanz
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003704:Dementia / Q000451:nursing*; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology