Leisure Time Activities and Mental Health in Informal Dementia Caregivers.

OBJECTIVES: Dementia prevalence and the demand for dementia care are increasing. Informal caregiving accounts for a large proportion of dementia care, but can come at high cost for caregivers. Informal dementia caregivers are at higher risk for mental health problems than the general population. This study examines whether perceived change in leisure activities is one working mechanism linking stress and burden experience in dementia caregiving to lower mental health (depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and reduced satisfaction with life), and whether there are group-based leisure activities that can buffer this detrimental effect. METHODS: A total of 346 informal Australian dementia caregivers (88.15% female, age 18-82 years) participated in an online study. RESULTS: Mediation and moderation analyses using multiple regression demonstrated that perceived changes in leisure activities linked caregiving stress and burden to lower mental health, and that membership in groups engaging in affiliation or social activities attenuates negative effects of caregiving. CONCLUSION: Informal dementia caregivers benefit from satisfying leisure activities. In particular, engaging in social activities and self-help groups buffered the negative impact of caregiving.

Self-affirmation, intentions and alcohol consumption in students: a randomized exploratory trial.

AIMS: This study tests whether enhancing alcohol risk messages with self-affirmation, the process of focusing on cherished aspects of oneself, increases intentions to reduce alcohol consumption and reduces actual alcohol consumption. It was also examined whether these effects differed by risk status as indicated by standard drinks consumed in an average week. METHODS: Participants (n = 121) were randomly allocated to a self-affirmation or matched control condition before viewing emotive graphic alcohol warning posters in a questionnaire-based study. RESULTS: There were significant increases in intentions to reduce alcohol consumption in self-affirmed participants, and these effects were stronger in participants with higher behavioural risk. Intentions in turn significantly predicted a reduction in self-reported alcohol consumption. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the use of self-affirmation to enhance alcohol awareness campaigns, particularly in individuals with high behavioural risk.