Communication Problems Between Caregivers and Individuals with Dementia: Implications for Caregiver Well-being
Open Access
Author:
Stiadle, Jeanna M
Area of Honors:
Human Development and Family Studies
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Steven Howard Zarit, Thesis Supervisor Dr. Lisa Michelle Gatzke-Kopp, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
Communication Sciences and Disorders Dementia Caregiver Well-being Communication Sciences and Disorders Dementia Caregiver Well-being Communication Sciences and Disorders Dementia Caregiver Well-being Communication Sciences and Disorders Dementia Caregiver Well-being
Abstract:
Communication problems resulting from dementia have been extensively described by clinicians, but little research has examined how these problems affect family caregivers. As individuals with dementia (IWDs) experience decreasing communication capacity, caregivers may develop feelings of burden. This study investigates different aspects of communication behaviors and their effects on caregiver outcomes using cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses. I identified scales for positive, aggressive, and depressive communication to test them as predictors, and related them to caregiver outcomes: depression, anger, positive affect, and role overload. This research will pave the way for interventions to improve communication between IWDs and caregivers.
