Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-vdxz6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T09:11:31.910Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The impact of motivations and meanings on the wellbeing of caregivers of people with dementia: a systematic review

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 September 2009

Catherine Quinn ,
Linda Clare  and
Robert T Woods
Catherine Quinn
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, Bangor University, Bangor, U.K.
Linda Clare*
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, Bangor University, Bangor, U.K.
Robert T Woods
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, Bangor University, Bangor, U.K.
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Professor Linda Clare, School of Psychology, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2AS, U.K. Phone: +44 (0)1248 388178. Email: [email protected].
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Background: The majority of people in the early and middle stages of dementia are cared for at home by non-paid caregivers, the majority of whom will be family members. Two factors which could have an impact on the quality of care provided to the care-recipient are the caregiver's motivations for providing care and the meaning s/he finds in caregiving. The aim of this review is to explore the potential impact of both meaning and motivation on the wellbeing of caregivers of people with dementia. The review also explores individual differences in motivations to provide care.

Methods: This was a systematic review of peer-reviewed empirical studies exploring motivations and meanings in informal caregivers of people with dementia. Four studies were identified which examined the caregiver's motivations to provide care. Six studies were identified which examined the meaning that caregivers found in dementia caregiving.

Results: Caregivers' wellbeing could be influenced by the nature of their motivations to care. In addition, cultural norms and caregivers’ kin-relationship to the care-recipient impacted on motivations to provide care. Finding meaning had a positive impact on caregiver wellbeing.

Conclusions: The limited evidence currently available indicates that both the caregiver's motivations to provide care and the meaning s/he finds in caregiving can have implications for the caregiver's wellbeing. More research is needed to explore the role of motivations and meaning in dementia caregiving.

Keywords

quality of carecopingcultural valuesfilial obligationfilial piety
Type
Review Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 22 , Issue 1 , February 2010 , pp. 43 - 55
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2009

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Arber, S. and Gilbert, G. N. (1989). Transitions into caring: gender, life course and the care of the elderly. In Bytheway, B., Keil, T., Allatt, P. and Bryman, A. (eds.), Becoming and Being Old: Sociological Approaches to Later Life (pp. 72–92). London: Sage.Google Scholar
Batson, C. D., Batson, J. G., Slingsby, J. K., Harrell, K. L., Peekna, H. M. and Todd, R. M. (1991). Empathic joy and the empathy-altruism hypothesis. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 61, 413–426.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Baumeister, R. F. and Vohs, K. D. (2002). The pursuit of meaningfulness in life. In Snyder, C. R. and Lopez, S. J. (eds.), Handbook of Positive Psychology (pp. 608–618). Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Blieszner, R., and Shifflet, P. A. (1989). Affection, communication, and commitment in adult-child caregiving for parents with Alzheimer's disease. In Mancini, J. A. (ed.), Aging Parents and Adult Children (pp. 231–242). Lexington, MA: Lexington Books.Google Scholar
Cahill, S. M. (1999). Caring in families: what motivates wives, daughters, and daughters-in-law to provide dementia care? Journal of Family Studies, 5, 235–247.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
*Carruth, A. K. (1996). Motivating factors, exchange patterns, and reciprocity among caregivers of parents with and without dementia. Research in Nursing and Health, 19, 409–419.Google ScholarPubMed
Cicirelli, V. G. (1989). Helping relationships in later life: a re-examination. In Mancini, J. A. (ed.), Aging Parents and Adult Children (pp. 167–179). Levington, MA: Lexington Books.Google Scholar
Cox, C. and Gelfand, D. (1987). Familial assistance, exchange, satisfaction among Hispanic, Portuguese, and Vietnamese ethnic elderly. Journal of Cross Cultural Gerontology, 2, 241–255.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
*Cox, C. and Monk, A. (1993). Hispanic culture and family care of Alzheimer's patients. Health and Social Work, 18, 92–100.Google ScholarPubMed
Doty, P. D. (1986). Family care of the elderly: the role of public policy. The Milbank Quarterly, 64, 34–75.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Farran, C. J. and Keane-Hagerty, E. (1991). An interactive model for finding meaning through caregiving. In Chinn, P. L. (ed.), Anthology on Caring (pp. 225–237). New York: National League for Nursing Press.Google Scholar
*Farran, C. J., Keane-Hagerty, E., Salloway, S., Kupferer, S. and Wilken, C. S. (1991). Finding meaning: an alternative paradigm for Alzheimer's disease family caregivers. The Gerontologist, 31, 483–489.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
*Farran, C. J., Miller, B. H., Kaufman, J. E. and Davis, L. (1997). Race, finding meaning, and caregiver distress. Journal of Aging and Health, 9, 316–333.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Farran, C. J., Miller, B. H., Kaufman, J. E., Donner, E. and Fogg, L. (1999). Finding meaning through caregiving: development of an instrument for family caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's disease. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 55, 1007–1125.3.0.CO;2-V>CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Frankl, V. E. (1971). The Will to Meaning Foundations and Applications of Logotherapy. London: Souvenir.Google Scholar
Feeney, B. C. and Collins, N. L. (2003). Motivations for caregiving in adult intimate relationships: influences on caregiving behavior and relationship functioning. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 29, 950–968.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Folkman, S. and Moskowitz, J. T. (2000). Positive affect and the other side of coping. American Psychologist, 55, 647–654.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
*Gallagher, T. J., Wagenfeld, M. O., Baro, F. and Haepers, K. (1994). Sense of coherence, coping and caregiver role overload. Social Science and Medicine, 39, 1615–1622.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gatz, M., Bengtson, V. L. and Blum, M. J. (1990). Caregiving families. In Birren, J. E.. and Schaie, K. W. (eds.), Handbook of the Psychology of Aging (3rd edn, pp. 404–426). London: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Globerman, J. (1996). Daughters-and sons-in-law caring for relatives with Alzheimer's disease. Family Relations, 45, 37–45.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
*Gottlieb, B. H. and Gignac, M. A. M. (1996). Content and domain specificity of coping among family caregivers of persons with dementia. Journal of Aging Studies, 10, 137–155.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Haley, W. E., Levine, , Brown, S. L. and Bartolucci, A. A. (1987). Stress, appraisal, coping and social support as predictors of adaptional outcome among dementia caregivers. Psychology and Aging, 2, 323–330.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harris, P. B. (1983). The misunderstood caregiver? A qualitative study of the male caregivers of Alzheimer's disease victims. The Gerontologist, 33, 551–556.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ho, B., Friedland, J., Rappolt, S. and Noh, S. (2003). Caregiving for relatives with Alzheimer's disease: feelings of Chinese-Canadian women. Journal of Aging Studies, 17, 301–321.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Johnson, M. P., Caughlin, J. P., and Huston, T. L. (1999). The triparitite nature of marital commitment: personal, moral, and structural reasons to stay married. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 61, 160–177.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
*Kabitsi, N. and Powers, D. V. (2002). Spousal motivations of care for demented older adults: a cross-cultural comparison of Greek and American female caregivers. Journal of Aging Studies, 16, 383–399.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kasten, L. (1993). Justification for 12 item Meaning in Caregiving questionnaire. Unpublished manuscript, New England Research Institutes.Google Scholar
Klinger, E. (1977). Meaning and Void: Inner Experience and the Incentives in People's Lives. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota.Google Scholar
Knapp, M. and Prince, M. (2007). Dementia UK: Report to the Alzheimer's Society. London: Alzheimer's Society.Google Scholar
Kramer, B. J. (1997). Gain in the caregiving experience. Where are we? What next? The Gerontologist, 37, 218–232.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lee, E. E., Farran, C. J., Tripp-Reimer, T. and Sadler, G. R. (2003). Assessing the cultural appropriateness of the Finding Meaning through Caregiving Scale for Korean caregivers. Journal of Nursing Measurement, 11, 19–28.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
*Lee, Y-R. and Sung, K-T. (1997). Cultural differences in caregiving motivations for demented parents: Korean caregivers versus American caregivers. International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 44, 115–127.Google ScholarPubMed
Levine, N. B. et al. (1984). Existential issues in the management of the demented elderly patient. American Journal of Psychotherapy, 38, 215–223.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lewis, J. and Meredith, B. (1988). Daughters Who Care: Daughters Caring for Mothers at Home. London: Routledge.Google Scholar
Lyonette, C. and Yardley, L. (2003). The influence on carer wellbeing of motivations to care for older people and the relationship with the care recipient. Ageing and Society, 23, 487–506.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Montgomery, R. J. V. and Williams, K. N. (2001). Implications of differential impacts of care-giving for future research on Alzheimer care. Aging and Mental Health, 5, 23–34.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Morgan, D. G. and Laing, G. P. (1991). The diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease: spouse's perspectives. Qualitative Health Research, 1, 370–387.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
National Audit Office (2007). Improving Services and Support for People with Dementia. London: National Audit office.Google Scholar
Noonan, A. E. and Tennstedt, S. L. (1997). Meaning in caregiving and its contribution to caregiver well-being. The Gerontologist, 37, 785–794.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Noonan, A. E., Tennstedt, S. L. and Rebelsky, F. G. (1996). Making the best of it: themes of meaning among informal caregivers to the elderly. Journal of Aging Studies, 10, 313–327.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pearlin, L. I., Mullan, J. T., Semple, S. J. and Skaff, M. M. (1990). Caregiving and the stress process: an overview of concepts and their measures. The Gerontologist, 30, 583–594.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Qureshi, H. and Walker, A. (1989). The Caring Relationship: Elderly People and Their Families. London: Macmillian.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rubinstein, R. L. (1989). Themes in the meaning of caregiving. Journal of Aging Studies, 3, 119–138.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
*Saad, K., Hartman, J., Ballard, C., Kurian, M., Graham, C. and Wilcock, G. (1995). Coping by the carers of dementia sufferers. Age and Ageing, 24, 495–498.Google ScholarPubMed
Schulz, R., Biegel, D., Morycz, R. and Visintainer, P. (1989). Psychological paradigms for understanding caregiving. In Light, E. and Lebowitz, B. D. (eds)., Alzheimer's Disease Treatment and Family Stress: Directions for Research (pp. 106–121). Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Mental Health.Google Scholar
Seebach, W. C. and Sauer, W. (1977). Filial responsibility, expectations, and morale among aged persons. The Gerontologist, 17, 492–499.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Walker, A. J., Pratt, C. C., Shin, H-Y. and Jones, L. L. (1990). Motives for parental caregiving and relationship quality. Family Relations, 39, 51–56.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wallhagen, M. I. and Yamamoto-Mitani, N. (2006). The meaning of family caregiving in Japan and the United States: a qualitative comparative study. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 17, 65–73.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wells, Y. D. (1999). Intentions to care for a spouse: gender differences in anticipated willingness to care and expected burden. Journal of Family Studies, 5, 220–234.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wells, Y. D. and Kendig, H. L. (1996). Changes in carers’ capacity and motivation to provide care. Journal of Family Studies, 2, 15–28.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
*Winslow, B. W. (1997). Effects of formal supports on stress outcomes in family caregivers of Alzheimer's patients. Research in Nursing and Health, 20, 27–37.3.0.CO;2-W>CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Zhan, H. J. and Montgomery, R. J. V. (2003). Gender and elder care in China: the influence of filial piety and structural constraints. Gender and Society, 17, 209–229.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zika, S. and Chamberlain, K. (1992). On the relation between meaning in life and psychological wellbeing. British Journal of Psychology, 83, 133–145.CrossRefGoogle Scholar