Faculty Collaboration Database

The influence of caregiver mastery on depressive symptoms. J Nurs Scholarsh 2007;39(3):249-55

Date

09/01/2007

Pubmed ID

17760798

DOI

10.1111/j.1547-5069.2007.00176.x

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-34548246410 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   54 Citations

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore how the relationship between care recipients' problem behaviors and caregivers' depressive symptoms varies as a function of caregiver mastery, controlling for the effects of caregiver age, gender, and relationship to the care recipient in caregivers of people with primary malignant brain tumor (PMBT).

DESIGN: A cross-sectional design was used to gather data via telephone interviews from 95 caregivers of people with primary malignant brain tumor, recruited from 2003 to 2004 from a brain tumor treatment center, two national support groups, and a statewide cancer registry.

METHODS: Measures for the study included the Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Questionnaire, Caregiver Mastery, and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression. A stepwise regression procedure was used to evaluate potential moderating and mediating relationships.

FINDINGS: Data did not indicate that caregiver mastery was a moderating variable. The analysis showed caregiver mastery as a partial mediator, with both a direct effect of care recipients' problem behaviors on caregivers' depressive symptoms and an indirect effect through caregiver mastery. Concerning the indirect effect, care recipients' problem behaviors were related to lower levels of caregiver mastery, which in turn were related to more depressive symptoms in caregivers.

CONCLUSIONS: Findings showed a link between care recipients' problem behaviors and caregivers' depressive symptoms, a relationship that has not been well established in oncology. This association indicates one mechanism through which problem behaviors in the care recipient might lead to caregiver depressive symptoms.

Author List

Sherwood PR, Given BA, Given CW, Schiffman RF, Murman DL, von Eye A, Lovely M, Rogers LR, Remer S

Author

Rachel Schiffman BS,MS,PhD Associate Dean for Research in the College of Nursing department at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Aged
Brain Neoplasms
Caregivers
Cross-Sectional Studies
Depression
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Models, Psychological