Distress and Causal Attributions Associated with Caring for Family Members with Senile Dementia

• Main Author: Henschel, Peter W. (Peter William)
• Other Authors: Guarnaccia, Charles Anthony
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: University of North Texas 1993
• Subjects: dementia; family caregivers; home care; Senile dementia > Patients > Family relationships.; Senile dementia > Patients > Home care.; Caregivers > Psychology.; Distress (Psychology)
• Online Access: https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc501261/

A sample of 22 persons who care for relatives exhibiting initial symptoms of senile dementia were administered paper-and- pencil questionnaires to determine their level of subjective burden and psychological symptomatology. Each participant's attributional style was measured on an internal-external dimension, and their causal attributions regarding their relative's symptomatic behaviors were assessed. Results indicated that attributional style did not predict specific attributions about illness-related behaviors, but the tendency to not blame an afflicted relative for their behavior was predictive of subjective burden and symptoms of depression and anxiety. Subjective burden was found to predict feelings of hostility in caregivers.