title: Task difficulty and life changes among stroke family caregivers: relationship to depressive symptoms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate differences in stroke caregiver task difficulty and life changes based on level of caregiver depressive symptoms, and to estimate probabilities among task difficulty and life change items.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive analysis of baseline data from an ongoing stroke caregiver intervention trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hospitals and rehabilitation facilities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Caregivers (N=242; 78.6% women; 47.7% spouses; 71.8% white; mean age, 54.2±12.1y) caring for stroke survivors within 8 weeks of discharge to home.
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  Baseline measures for task difficulty (Oberst Caregiving Burden Scale) and life changes (Bakas Caregiving Outcomes Scale) were compared based on level of depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-9 [PHQ-9] scores <5 means no depressive symptoms; n=126; PHQ-9 scores ≥5 means mild to severe depressive symptoms, n=116). Mean scores were analyzed using general linear modeling, with item analyses using logistic regression and the Benjamini-Hochberg method to control type I error inflation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Caregivers with mild to severe depressive symptoms have greater difficulty with tasks and worse life changes than those with no depressive symptoms (P<.001). Odds ratios were highest for the task of arranging care while away and for negative life changes (eg, addressing self-esteem, coping with stress, physical health).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings underscore the importance of depressive symptom screening for stroke caregivers during or shortly after discharge. Assisting caregivers with depressive symptoms to arrange for respite care and addressing negative physical and psychological changes may be priority areas for future interventions.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN. Electronic address: smclenno@iu.edu.
authors.forename: Susan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: McLennon
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN.
authors.forename: Tamilyn
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bakas
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN.
authors.forename: Nenette M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Jessup
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Delaware, Newark, DE.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Habermann
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN.
authors.forename: Michael T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Weaver
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012649:Self Concept; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D020521:Stroke / Q000451:nursing*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Caregivers; Depressive disorder; Rehabilitation; Stroke