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Making Sense of Caregiving for Persons with Multiple Sclerosis (MS): The Dimensional Structure of Sense Making and Relations with Positive and Negative Adjustment

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Abstract

Background: Sense making is a meaning-making process that refers to the development of explanations for adversity. Despite a growing interest in this construct within the chronic illness literature, it has been neglected in research on carers. Purpose: This study examines the dimensional structure of a multi-item measure of sense making in carers of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and investigates relations between sense making and both positive and negative adjustment outcomes. Method: Participants were 232 carers and their care recipients. Questionnaires were completed at first assessment (time 1) and 12 months later (time 2). Results: Factor analysis of the Carer Sense Making Scale (CSMS) revealed six psychometrically sound factors: catalyst for change, acceptance, spiritual perspective, incomprehensible, relationship ties, and causal attribution. Results of regression analyses indicated that the time 2 CSMS factors accounted for significant amounts of variance in each of the time 2 adjustment outcomes (life satisfaction, positive affect, anxiety, depression, care recipient adjustment ratings of carer) after controlling for time 1 adjustment and relevant demographic and illness variables. Conclusion: Findings delineate the dimensional structure of sense making in caregiving and the differential links between sense-making dimensions and adjustment, and have implications for the measurement of sense making.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, 4072, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

    Kenneth I. Pakenham

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  1. Kenneth I. Pakenham
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Correspondence to Kenneth I. Pakenham.

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I would like to thank the MS Society of Queensland for assistance with recruiting participants for this research. In particular, I thank Dr. Wayne Sanderson (Client Services Manager, MS Society of Queensland) for recognizing the value of this research and for his support and encouragement in conducting the project.

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Pakenham, K.I. Making Sense of Caregiving for Persons with Multiple Sclerosis (MS): The Dimensional Structure of Sense Making and Relations with Positive and Negative Adjustment. Int. J. Behav. Med. 15, 241–252 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1080/10705500802222345

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