Factors of resilience in informal caregivers of people with dementia from integrative international data analysis

Joling, Karlijn J.; Windle, Gill; Dröes, Rose-Marie; Meiland, Franka; van Hout, Hein P.J.; MacNeil Vroomen, Janet; van de Ven, Peter M.; Moniz-Cook, Esmé; Woods, Bob

Abstract

Background/Aims: Although caring for a person with dementia can be stressful, some caregivers appear to experience few negative consequences to their well-being. This study aimed to examine what proportion of caregivers demonstrates resilience under different challenging circumstances and to identify factors related to their resilience. Methods: Baseline data from 4 studies from the Netherlands and UK among informal caregivers of people with dementia were harmonized and integrated. Caregiver resilience was defined as high levels of psychological well-being despite different types of high caregiving demands. Multivariate regression analyses identified factors significantly related to caregiver resilience. Results: The integrated data set included 15 harmonized variables with data from 1,048 caregivers facing a high care demand. The prevalence of resilience varied between 35 and 43%, depending on the demand for high care. Being a male caregiver, caring for a female, living apart from your relative, and low caregiver burden were positively related to caregiver resilience. Conclusion: Caregivers have the capacity to demonstrate resilience despite significant challenges. This study demonstrates how harmonization of data from multiple existing studies can be used to increase power and explore the consistency of findings. This contributes to a better understanding of which factors are likely to facilitate caregiver resilience and offers insights for developing services.

Citation

Joling, K. J., Windle, G., Dröes, R., Meiland, F., van Hout, H. P., MacNeil Vroomen, J., …Woods, B. (2016). Factors of resilience in informal caregivers of people with dementia from integrative international data analysis. Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders, 42(3-4), 198-214. https://doi.org/10.1159/000449131

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 10, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Sep 27, 2016
• Publication Date: 2016-10
• Deposit Date: Oct 5, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 5, 2016
• Journal: Dementia and geriatric cognitive disorders
• Print ISSN: 1420-8008
• Electronic ISSN: 1421-9824
• Publisher: Karger Publishers
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 42
• Issue: 3-4
• Pages: 198-214
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1159/000449131
• Keywords: Informal caregiving, Resilience, Dementia, Adversity, Data harmonization
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/443825
• Publisher URL: http://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/449131
• Additional Information: This is a copy of an open access article published in: Dementia and geriatric cognitive disorders, 2016, v.42 issue 3-4.