Caregiver attribution and resentment in dementia care
Open accessAbstract
The caregivers of 37 patients with a dementing illness completed rating scales regarding the frequency and severity of their care recipient's general behavioral disturbance and manipulative behaviors, as well as their own resentment and depression. Caregivers were randomized to a four-week psychoeducational group intervention or control group to investigate the effect of dementia caregiving education on the caregiving experience. Findings indicated that, while care recipient behavioral disturbance was correlated with caregiver resentment and depression, the primary relationship was between behaviors perceived by the caregiver as manipulative or willful and caregiver resentment and depression. We found no significant differences in caregiver attribution, resentment, or depression between the caregivers who participated in the group session and those in the control group. The study supports the existence of resentment among dementia caregivers, and an important relationship between caregiving outcomes and attributions made by caregivers regarding their care recipients' actions. These results are discussed in relation to existing research on caregiver distress and intervention.
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If caregivers misinterpret dementia-caused behaviors as intentional, higher caregiving intensity may correspond to heightened anger and resentment.
“If caregivers misinterpret the dementia-caused behaviors of their relatives as intentional due to their dysfunctional beliefs, a higher intensity of caregiving may correspond to heightened feelings of anger and resentment (Martin-Cook et al., Citation2003), which have been shown to play a crucial role for caregiver burden (López et al., Citation2015).”
From How do care-related beliefs contribute to depression and anxiety in family caregivers of people with dementia? Testing a cognitive vulnerability-stress model. (2025) · cites this paper as Martin-Cook et al., 2003
The Discussion (page unavailable) links caregivers’ perception that dementia-related behavior is purposeful or manipulative with resentment. The paper does not establish that greater caregiving intensity corresponds to greater anger and resentment; it examines behavioral symptoms and perceived intent, and reports resentment rather than anger as an outcome. (LLM, conf=0.85)
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Cites
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Sorted by citations
Nonpharmacological therapies in Alzheimer’s disease: a systematic review of efficacy
Olazarán, J., Reisberg, B., Clare, L., Cruz, I., Peña-Casanova, J., del Ser, T., Woods, B., Beck, C., Auer, S., Lai, C., et al. (2010) · Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders · doi:10.1159/000316119 · Cited by 937 · see citing works
Systematic review of information and support interventions for caregivers of people with dementia
Thompson, C. A., Spilsbury, K., Hall, J., Birks, Y., Barnes, C., & Adamson, J. (2007) · BMC Geriatrics · doi:10.1186/1471-2318-7-18 · Cited by 374 · see citing works
Determinants of burden in those who care for someone with dementia
Campbell, P., Wright, J., Oyebode, J., Job, D., Crome, P., Bentham, P., Jones, L., & Lendon, C. (2008) · International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry · doi:10.1002/gps.2071 · Cited by 273 · see citing works
Wrede, N., Töpfer, N. F., Risch, A. K., & Wilz, G. (2025) · Aging & Mental Health · doi:10.1080/13607863.2024.2386079 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
“…behaviors of their relatives as intentional due to their dysfunctional beliefs, a higher intensity of caregiving may correspond to heightened feelings of anger and resentment (Martin-Cook et al., 2003), which have been shown to play a crucial role for caregiver burden (López et al., 2015).”
- Authors
- Martin-Cook, K., Remakel-Davis, B., Svetlik, D., Hynan, L. S., & Weiner, M. F.
- Affiliations
- The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (US)
- Venue
- American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease & Other Dementias®
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2003-11
- Volume
- 18
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 366-374
- ISSN
- 0888-4897 (ISSN-L)
- 1533-3175
- 1938-2731
- PMC
- PMC10833658
- OpenAlex
- W2058649707
- Cited by
- 70
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 2 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 4 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 1.02
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- American Journal of Alzheimer s Disease & Other Dementias® (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute on Aging (P30AG012300, AG 12300)
- 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
- dementia caregiving, caregiver depression, behavioral problems, manipulative behavior, psychoeducational intervention, caregiver distress, caregiver education
- MeSH terms
- Affect, Aged, Alzheimer Disease, Attitude, Mental Disorders, Depression, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Surveys and Questionnaires, Caregivers
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