Coping Strategies Influence Caregiver Outcomes among Asian Family Caregivers of Persons with Dementia in Singapore
Abstract
This cross-sectional study used the stress and coping paradigm to examine the factors associated with negative and positive adjustment outcomes among Asian family caregivers of persons with dementia (PWD) in Singapore. One hundred seven family caregivers completed measures assessing patient illness characteristics, general coping styles of caregivers, specific dementia management strategies, religion and spirituality, and caregiver adjustment outcomes of burden and gain. Multiple regressions revealed that behavioral problems in the PWD, dementia severity, and the use of behavioral disengagement and criticism as coping strategies were significant predictors of burden accounting for 48% of the explained variance [F(4,99)=23.12, P<0.001]. The only significant predictor of gain was the use of encouragement as a specific dementia management strategy, explaining 18% of variance [F(3,102)=7.39, P<0.001]. Religion and spirituality predicted gain indirectly through the use of encouragement. Coping strategies had an independent effect on caregiver outcomes above and beyond PWD illness characteristics and caregiver characteristics. Hence, caregiver interventions should target coping strategies to improve outcomes of caregiving for dementia. Findings also support the need to examine religion and spirituality in future studies of caregiver adjustment outcomes and to explore the factors not measured in this study that might explain gain.
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Illness severity and presence of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia are known predictors for caregiver burden and depressive and anxiety symptoms.
“Illness severity and presence of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are known predictors for caregiver burden and depressive and anxiety symptoms [25,29,30,31,32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39,40,41,42,43,44,45,46,47,48].”
From Relationship of Psychological Flexibility and Mindfulness to Caregiver Burden, and Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms in Caregivers of People with Dementia (2023) · cites this paper as [37]
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- Authors
- Lim, J., Griva, K., Goh, J., Chionh, H. L., & Yap, P.
- Affiliations
- National University of Singapore (SG)
- Alexandra Hospital (SG)
- Corresponding author
- Lim, June
- Griva, Konstadina
- Venue
- Alzheimer Disease & Associated Disorders
- Published
- 2011-01
- Volume
- 25
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 34-41
- ISSN
- 0893-0341 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2060607657
- Cited by
- 63
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 1.96
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Alzheimer Disease & Associated Disorders (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- National University of Singapore (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- National University of Singapore
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Pharmacy › Nursing care and research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Family Caregiving in Mental Illness
- Keywords
- family caregivers, dementia, coping strategies, caregiver burden, caregiver adaptation, behavioral symptoms of dementia, dementia severity, behavioral disengagement, criticism, encouragement, religion and spirituality, Singapore
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Psychological, Cross-Sectional Studies, Dementia, Humans, Surveys and Questionnaires, Singapore, Caregivers, Cost of Illness, Asian People
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