title: A randomised controlled trial of benefit finding in caregivers: The Building Resources in Caregivers Study Protocol.
abstract: Caregivers may engage in benefit finding, that is, an increase in perceived positive growth, as a cognitive strategy for coping with stress. The Building Resources in Caregivers study will compare effects of a brief benefit finding writing intervention with a control intervention. Caregivers of people with mental and physical disabilities will be randomised into either a benefit-writing group or a neutral writing group. Caregivers will complete measures relating to themselves and care-recipients (e.g. sociodemographics and illness type) and psychometric measures of benefit finding, distress and quality of life at three time points. Additionally, qualitative commentary on participation experiences will be gathered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brand
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland; Centre for Social Issues Research, Study of Anxiety, Stress and Health Lab, University of Limerick, Ireland.
authors.forename: Brenda H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: O'Connell
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland; Centre for Social Issues Research, Study of Anxiety, Stress and Health Lab, University of Limerick, Ireland; Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gallagher
keywords: Benefit finding; caregiver; expressive writing; intervention; randomised control trial