A structural equation modeling of caregiving experiences of family caregivers caring for people with dementia / 中国心理卫生杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To explore and test a caregiving experience model by Structural Equation Modeling (SEM)in the family caregivers caring for people with dementia in China. Method:Totally 349 elder patients with dementia and their family caregivers were selected and interviewed,using a battery of measures including demo-graphic data of the dyads,impairement of care recipient,caregiver's appraisal of role strain,role gain,negative and positive well-being outcomes. By using the Kramer's caregiver adaptation model as theoretical framework,a care-giving experience model were hypothesized tested by structural equation modeling (SEM). Result:A five-factor model for the caregiving experience was supported by SEM. The model demonstrated that the severity of dementia significantly influenced the caregiver's appraisal of role strain (β=0. 5 1 ,P<0. 05 ),which predicted indirectly neg-ative well-being outcomes of the caregiver (β=0. 63,P<0. 05). On the other hand the caregiver's appraisal of rolegain which was negatively influenced by the severity of parent's dementia (β=-0. 33,P<0. 05),predicted posi-tive well-being outcomes of the caregiver (β=0. 75 ,P<0. 05 ). Conclusion:It suggests that both positive and nega-tive aspects of caregiving experiences could independently impact on the well-being outcomes of adult-child care-givers,and therefore both aspects should be targeted in supportive interventions for family caregivers in China.