Emotional distress and morbidity in dementia carers: A matchedcomparison of husbands and wives
C. Collins
Bok Engelsk 1997
| Utgitt | 1997
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| Omfang | Side 1168- 1173
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| Opplysninger | Objective. This study aimed to: (i) replicate previous findings thatwomen experience more strain and distress than men when caring fordementing spouses; (ii) explore what factors underlie this sexdifference.Design. Two closely matched subsamples of spouse carers, husbands andwives respectively, were selected and the two groups compared.Setting. An urban psychogeriatric service in the UK.Subjects. 48 spouses of referred dementia cases.Measures. Mental health was rated by the General HealthQuestionnaire, the Strain Scale and the Life Satisfaction Index.Various factors related to caregiving were assessed by the ProblemChecklist, and a specially devised instrument to record caregivingtask involvement, formal/informal support, objective burden,satisfaction with supports and attitudes to the relationship and tocaregiving.Results. The wives' levels of strain and morale were significantlyworse than husbands'. There were qualitative differences betweenhusbands and wives in terms of caregiving tasks undertaken. Wivestolerated dementia sufferers depending on them less well. Wives werealso more likely to wish to leave caregiving to someone else andcited more reasons for giving up. Subjects of both sexes displayed astrong tendency to view women as generally better suited to thecaregiving role, and wives felt a greater obligation to care.Conclusions. It is concluded that such attitudinal or social factorsare the chief determinants of wives' higher levels of strain anddistress. (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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