SUPPORT GROUPS FOR CAREGIVERS OF VICTIMS OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE: A STUDY OF THE EFFECTS OF SUPPORT GROUP PARTICIPATION AND A DESCRIPTION OF THE CAREGIVING EXPERIENCE.
Contributors: Union for Experimenting Colleges and Universities (U.S.)
Published: 1988
Number of pages: 308
Subjects: Psychology, Clinical.; Gerontology.; Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a support group network on caregivers and to describe the caregiving experience. The central questions in the study focus on the issues of the effects of support groups on the health and welfare of the caregiver and whether caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's Disease who participate in a support group network defer long-term institutionalization longer than do caregivers who do not participate.

For the quantitative study, three hundred subjects were randomly drawn from the mailing list of over three thousand caregivers. All subjects were asked to complete a questionnaire. One hundred eleven respondents reported active participation in a support group network; thirty-four reported non-participation. A single factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) was completed for several dimensions.

Results of the statistical analyses of the difference in length of caregiving between the groups were not significant. Subjective ratings of tiredness, nervousness, loss of interest in social activities, loneliness, poor health, and depression were analyzed. Significant differences for loneliness and for poor health between the groups were found; there were not statistically significant differences between the study groups for the other dimensions examined.

Subjects for the qualitative study were drawn from the population of active caregivers at the time of the investigation. Participants were selected without consideration for organismic variables. A modified structured interview was conducted with each of the ten volunteer participants. A description of caregiving from the caregiver's perspective was derived from the analyses of the interviews.

It was concluded that significant similarities characterize caregivers of Alzheimer's Disease patients regardless of their participation in support group networks. Data from the qualitative study indicate, however, that those who do participate perceive them as invaluable in their lives. Caregivers reporting intra-family discord, increased anger, resentment, and court involvement were most often not involved in support group activities.

Recommendations for further research were made.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 49-12, Section: B, page: 5523.

Thesis (PH.D.)--THE UNION FOR EXPERIMENTING COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, 1988.

School code: 0557.