Abstract
coping strategies that are most advantageous to caregivers. However, as yet, no research has studied self-compassion in caregivers. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the relationship between self-compassion, coping strategies and caregiver burden in dementia caregivers.
Method: Cross-sectional survey data was collected from 73 informal caregivers of people with dementia recruited from post-diagnostic support services and caregiver support groups.
Results: Self-compassion was found to be negatively related to caregiver burden and dysfunctional coping strategies and positively related to emotion-focused coping strategies. Dysfunctional strategies mediated the relationship between self-compassion and caregiver burden, whereas emotion-focused strategies did not.
Conclusion: Caregivers with higher levels of self-compassion report lower levels of burden and this is at least partly due to the use of less dysfunctional coping strategies.
Clinical Implications: Interventions that develop self-compassion could represent a useful intervention for struggling caregivers.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 47-59 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Journal | Clinical Gerontologist |
| Volume | 42 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Early online date | 3 May 2018 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2019 |
Fingerprint
Keywords
- Caregivers
- caregiver burden
- coping strategies
- dementia
- self-compassion
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Social Psychology
- Health(social science)
- Clinical Psychology
- Gerontology
- Geriatrics and Gerontology
Cite this
Self-compassion, coping strategies and caregiver burden in caregivers of people with dementia. / Lloyd, Joanna; Muers, Jane; Patterson, Tom; Marczak, Magda.
In: Clinical Gerontologist, Vol. 42, No. 1, 2019, p. 47-59.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Self-compassion, coping strategies and caregiver burden in caregivers of people with dementia.
AU - Lloyd, Joanna
AU - Muers, Jane
AU - Patterson, Tom
AU - Marczak, Magda
PY - 2019
Y1 - 2019
N2 - Objective: Caring for someone with dementia can have negative consequences for caregivers, a phenomenon known as caregiver burden. Coping strategies influence the impact of caregiving-related stress. Specifically, using emotion-focused strategies has been associated with lower levels of burden, whereas dysfunctional strategies have been related to increased burden. The concept of self-compassion has been linked to both positive outcomes and thecoping strategies that are most advantageous to caregivers. However, as yet, no research has studied self-compassion in caregivers. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the relationship between self-compassion, coping strategies and caregiver burden in dementia caregivers.Method: Cross-sectional survey data was collected from 73 informal caregivers of people with dementia recruited from post-diagnostic support services and caregiver support groups.Results: Self-compassion was found to be negatively related to caregiver burden and dysfunctional coping strategies and positively related to emotion-focused coping strategies. Dysfunctional strategies mediated the relationship between self-compassion and caregiver burden, whereas emotion-focused strategies did not.Conclusion: Caregivers with higher levels of self-compassion report lower levels of burden and this is at least partly due to the use of less dysfunctional coping strategies.Clinical Implications: Interventions that develop self-compassion could represent a useful intervention for struggling caregivers.
AB - Objective: Caring for someone with dementia can have negative consequences for caregivers, a phenomenon known as caregiver burden. Coping strategies influence the impact of caregiving-related stress. Specifically, using emotion-focused strategies has been associated with lower levels of burden, whereas dysfunctional strategies have been related to increased burden. The concept of self-compassion has been linked to both positive outcomes and thecoping strategies that are most advantageous to caregivers. However, as yet, no research has studied self-compassion in caregivers. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the relationship between self-compassion, coping strategies and caregiver burden in dementia caregivers.Method: Cross-sectional survey data was collected from 73 informal caregivers of people with dementia recruited from post-diagnostic support services and caregiver support groups.Results: Self-compassion was found to be negatively related to caregiver burden and dysfunctional coping strategies and positively related to emotion-focused coping strategies. Dysfunctional strategies mediated the relationship between self-compassion and caregiver burden, whereas emotion-focused strategies did not.Conclusion: Caregivers with higher levels of self-compassion report lower levels of burden and this is at least partly due to the use of less dysfunctional coping strategies.Clinical Implications: Interventions that develop self-compassion could represent a useful intervention for struggling caregivers.
KW - Caregivers
KW - caregiver burden
KW - coping strategies
KW - dementia
KW - self-compassion
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85046414579&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/07317115.2018.1461162
DO - 10.1080/07317115.2018.1461162
M3 - Article
VL - 42
SP - 47
EP - 59
JO - Clinical Gerontologist
JF - Clinical Gerontologist
SN - 0731-7115
IS - 1
ER -