title: Subjective stressors moderate effectiveness of a multi-component, multi-site intervention on caregiver depression and burden.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study assessed whether caregiving contextual factors moderated outcomes of a caregiver intervention.
  
  
  METHODS
  Extant data from the Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer's Caregiver Health (REACH) II study, a randomized-control trial of a multi-component, multi-site intervention for dementia caregivers was utilized. 498 caregivers {83.1% women; mean [standard deviation (SD)] age = 60.3 (13.1)}, and their care recipients [58.6% women, mean (SD) age = 78.5 (9.6)] were randomly assigned to intervention or control group. Multiple regression was used to regress Center for Epidemiological Studies of Depression Scale (CES-D) and Zarit burden scores on the interaction between group membership and various factors reflecting the caregiving context.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lower follow-up CES-D scores in the intervention group were found only for those: in the fourth quartile of baseline CES-D (β = -0.13, p = 0.05; overall interaction p = 0.009), with high Revised Memory and Behavior Problems Checklist (RMBPC) stress (β = -0.16, p = 0.03) and with a home health aide (β = -0.29, p = 0.009). Diminished burden was found in the intervention group only for the following: those in the fourth quartile of baseline burden (β = -0.16, p = 0.01), and in the fourth quartile (β = -0.16, p = 0.05) of Mini Mental State Examination, and with high RMBPC stress (β = -0.18, p = 0.008), with a trend for diminished burden among those with a paid homemaker (β = -0.19, p = 0.075).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results suggest greater intervention efficacy among caregivers experiencing subjective stress.
authors: Department of Psychology, Utah State University, Logan, Utah.
authors: Daniel J
authors: DJ
authors: Hatch
authors: William B
authors: WB
authors: DeHart
authors: Maria C
authors: MC
authors: Norton
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003704:Dementia / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control*
keywords: burden; caregiver; dementia; depression