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The burden of distress in caregivers of elderly demented patients and its relationship with coping strategies

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Abstract

Objective

Previous studies have shown that taking care of elderly, demented patients carries a high cost to caregivers’ health, and is associated with negative consequences for physical and mental health. The aim of this study is to investigate which socio-demographic and clinical variables are significantly associated with higher levels of distress in caregivers, and the relationship between caregivers’ levels of distress and the coping strategies they adopt.

Patients and participants

The study samples 112 caregivers of demented patients, consecutively admitted to the Department of Neurology of San Raffaele-Turro Hospital (Milan, Italy).

Measurements and results

Caregivers were asked to complete the CBI and the COPE. Caregivers with the highest levels of distress are characterised by an impaired physical health status. Avoidance coping may represent a risk factor associated with higher levels of distress; conversely, an active and problem-focused approach to stressful situations may act as a protective factor.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinical and Health Psychology Unit Department of Clinical Neurosciences, San Raffaele-Turro Hospital, Milan, Italy

    Valentina E. Di Mattei, Antonio Prunas, Liliana Novella & Lucio Sarno

  2. Neurology Unit Department of Clinical Neurosciences, San Raffaele-Turro Hospital, Milan, Italy

    Alessandra Marcone & Stefano F. Cappa

  3. Faculty of Psychology Vita-Salute, San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy

    Stefano F. Cappa & Lucio Sarno

  4. Servizio di Psicologia Clinica della Salute Casa di Cura Ville Turro, Ospedale San Raffaele, Via Stamira D’Ancona 20, 20127, Milan, Italy

    Lucio Sarno

Authors
  1. Valentina E. Di Mattei
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  2. Antonio Prunas
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  3. Liliana Novella
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  4. Alessandra Marcone
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  5. Stefano F. Cappa
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  6. Lucio Sarno
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Correspondence to Lucio Sarno.

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Di Mattei, V.E., Prunas, A., Novella, L. et al. The burden of distress in caregivers of elderly demented patients and its relationship with coping strategies. Neurol Sci 29, 383–389 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-008-1047-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-008-1047-6

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