TY - JOUR
T1 - Psychological resilience predicts depressive symptoms among spouses of persons with Alzheimer disease over time
AU - O'Rourke, Norm
AU - Kupferschmidt, Anthony L.
AU - Claxton, Amy
AU - Smith, Julianna Z.
AU - Chappell, Neena
AU - Beattie, B. Lynn
N1 - Funding Information:
Support for this study was provided by the North Shore Health Research Foundation and from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR #136727), both were awarded to Dr. O’Rourke.
PY - 2010/11/1
Y1 - 2010/11/1
N2 - This study examines the three facets of psychological resilience (i.e., perceived control, commitment to living, challenge versus stability) as predictors of depressive symptoms over time among spousal caregivers of persons with Alzheimer disease; these resilience factors were considered over and above dementia-related and socio-demographic control variables. A sample of 105 cohabiting spouses of persons diagnosed with probable or possible Alzheimer disease was recruited for this study. Multilevel modeling enabled us to examine baseline resilience, and the direction and magnitude of change in resilience over time, as distinct predictors of depressive symptoms one year later, and change in depressive symptoms between points of measurement. Both Time 1 control and challenge predicted lower levels of depressive symptoms one year later; furthermore, an increase in challenge over this interval predicted lower Time 2 depressive symptoms. In contrast, commitment did not emerge as a statistically significant predictor of caregiver depression. Findings of this study provide general support for the stress process model of caregiving; in particular, the central role of intra-psychic factors as significant predictors of depressive symptoms over time.
AB - This study examines the three facets of psychological resilience (i.e., perceived control, commitment to living, challenge versus stability) as predictors of depressive symptoms over time among spousal caregivers of persons with Alzheimer disease; these resilience factors were considered over and above dementia-related and socio-demographic control variables. A sample of 105 cohabiting spouses of persons diagnosed with probable or possible Alzheimer disease was recruited for this study. Multilevel modeling enabled us to examine baseline resilience, and the direction and magnitude of change in resilience over time, as distinct predictors of depressive symptoms one year later, and change in depressive symptoms between points of measurement. Both Time 1 control and challenge predicted lower levels of depressive symptoms one year later; furthermore, an increase in challenge over this interval predicted lower Time 2 depressive symptoms. In contrast, commitment did not emerge as a statistically significant predictor of caregiver depression. Findings of this study provide general support for the stress process model of caregiving; in particular, the central role of intra-psychic factors as significant predictors of depressive symptoms over time.
KW - Alzheimer disease
KW - depressive symptoms
KW - informal care
KW - psychological resilience
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=78349268642&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/13607863.2010.501063
DO - 10.1080/13607863.2010.501063
M3 - Article
C2 - 21069604
AN - SCOPUS:78349268642
SN - 1360-7863
VL - 14
SP - 984
EP - 993
JO - Aging and Mental Health
JF - Aging and Mental Health
IS - 8
ER -