Assessing impact on family caregivers to Alzheimer's disease patients

This study examined both positive and negative impact of caregiving in a sample of 110 caregivers to an aging family member suffering from Alzheimer's disease. Family caregivers' appraisals along dimensions of subjective burden, negative impact, caregiving satisfaction, and caregiver mastery were correlated with the extent of memory and behavior problems of the patient and caregivers' coping style, locus of control, self-esteem, ego strength, level of depression, and perceived environmental support. Results provide additional evidence for the multidimensional structure of caregivers' subjective appraisals. Correlational findings suggest the potential treatment utility of multicomponent intervention programs addressing both positive and negative dimensions of family caregivers' experience.