Date of Award:

5-2015

Document Type:

Dissertation

Degree Name:

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department:

Psychology

Committee Chair(s)

JoAnn T. Tschanz

Committee

JoAnn T. Tschanz

Committee

M. Scott DeBerard

Committee

Kathleen W. Piercy

Committee

Christopher D. Corcoran

Committee

Elizabeth B. Fauth

Committee

Maria C. Norton

Abstract

This study examined the potential impact of dementia caregivers’ personality traits and utilization of coping strategies on care recipients’ development of severe dementia, institutionalization, and mortality. Generally, the personality traits and coping strategies were not predictive of care recipient outcomes, especially related to the institutionalization of care recipients. However, increased caregiver use of Avoidance predicted time to care recipient development of severe dementia, while increased use of Counting Blessings reduced risk of mortality.

This research was conducted using extant data from a community-wide study examining factors that affect dementia progression. All data were collected by a research nurse and a neuropsychological technician with the caregiver/care recipient dyad at the residence of care recipients and/or caregivers. Visits typically lasted two to three hours, during which the participants completed interviews, questionnaires, and assessment measures. Care recipients and their caregivers were each compensated $25 for their participation per study visit, each of which was scheduled approximately six months apart. The study was funded by grant R01AG21136 from the National Institute on Aging.

No costs to the participants were anticipated beyond the time spent participating. Benefits for the study included adding to the existing knowledge base regarding caregiver factors that predict significant clinical milestones of the course of dementia.

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