Association Between Anticipatory Grief and Problem Solving Among Family Caregivers of Persons With Cognitive Impairment
Open accessAbstract
OBJECTIVE: Measure perceived involvement in medical decision making and determine if anticipatory grief is associated with problem solving among family caregivers of older adults with cognitive impairment. METHOD: Retrospective analysis of baseline data from a caregiver intervention (n = 73). Multivariable regression models testing the association between caregivers' anticipatory grief, measured by the Anticipatory Grief Scale (AGS), with problem-solving abilities, measured by the social problem solving inventory-revised: short form (SPSI-R: S). RESULTS: 47/73 (64%) of caregivers reported involvement in medical decision making. Mean AGS was 70.1 (± 14.8) and mean SPSI-R: S was 107.2 (± 11.6). Higher AGS scores were associated with lower positive problem orientation (p = .041) and higher negative problem orientation scores (p = .001) but not other components of problem solving-rational problem solving, avoidance style, and impulsivity/carelessness style. DISCUSSION: Higher anticipatory grief among family caregivers impaired problem solving, which could have negative consequences for their medical decision making responsibilities.
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At baseline, the average anticipatory grief score was 80.9 with a standard deviation of 14.9, which is higher than reported in other studies of ADRD caregivers.
“The average anticipatory grief score was 80.9 (SD 14.9), which is higher than reported in other studies of ADRD caregivers (Fowler et al., 2013; Marwit & Meuser, 2005).”
From Feasibility and acceptability of a telephone-based ACT intervention for caregivers (TACTICs) of adults with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD): a randomized pilot during the COVID-19 pandemic. (2025) · cites this paper as Fowler et al., 2013
The Results (Descriptive results) report a mean anticipatory grief score of 70.1 (SD 14.8), not 80.9 (SD 14.9). The Discussion supports the comparison with other caregivers, stating that this sample’s mean was higher than a previously reported mean of 61.2. (LLM, conf=0.90)
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- Authors
- Fowler, N. R., Hansen, A. S., Barnato, A. E., & Garand, L.
- Affiliations
- University of Pittsburgh (US)
- Carnegie Mellon University (US)
- Venue
- Journal of Aging and Health
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2013-02-20
- Volume
- 25
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 493-509
- ISSN
- 0898-2643 (ISSN-L)
- 1552-6887
- PMC
- PMC3614338
- OpenAlex
- W2107032480
- Cited by
- 39
- References
- 44
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 2
- FWCI
- 3.34
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- europepmc.org
- Locations
- Journal of Aging and Health (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health (UL1TR000005)
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (K12HS019461)
- National Institute on Aging (P50AG005133, P50-AG-05133)
- National Institute of Mental Health (K23MH070719)
- National Institute of Nursing Research (K18NR012847)
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
- Keywords
- anticipatory grief, family caregivers, cognitive impairment, problem solving, social problem solving, clinical decision-making, negative problem orientation, older adults, caregiver burden
- MeSH terms
- Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Decision Making, Female, Grief, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Problem Solving, Retrospective Studies, Caregivers, Cognitive Dysfunction
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