title: Caregiver forgiveness is associated with less burden and potentially harmful behaviors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated whether caregiver forgiveness of care recipient's (CR's) upsetting behaviors is associated with less burden and potentially harmful behaviors (PHB) by the caregiver.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-six family caregivers of persons with dementia were recruited by means of convenience sampling through two local dementia service centers in Hong Kong. Caregivers were asked to complete an anonymous questionnaire that assessed CR behavior problems and caregiver burden, PHB and forgiveness.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results showed that forgiveness partially mediated the associations between CR disruptive behaviors and caregiver burden, and between CR depression and caregiver burden. At the same time, burden partially mediated the relationship between forgiveness and PHB.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The associations between certain behavioral problems and burden were mediated by caregiver forgiveness. Forgiveness also predicted harmful behaviors, both directly and indirectly through burden. Future research should investigate the basis of forgiveness in dementia caregivers and whether forgiveness may constitute another dimension in caregiver interventions.
authors: a Department of Psychological Studies , Hong Kong Institute of Education , Hong Kong , China.
authors: Sheung-Tak
authors: ST
authors: Cheng
authors: Isaac Nam
authors: IN
authors: Ip
authors: Timothy
authors: T
authors: Kwok
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003704:Dementia / Q000451:nursing* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000523:psychology*; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D061347:Forgiveness / Q000502:physiology*; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000091402:Prohibitins