ADJUSTMENT OF CAREGIVERS TO DEPRESSED OLDER ADULTS

In this research, older adults (N = 150) hospitalized for major depression and their wife, husband, daughter, or son caregivers were interviewed. The primary purpose of the research was to evaluate the ability of caregiver background characteristics, patient illness characteristics, caregiver coping, and strategies for managing the patient at home to predict caregiver adjustment. Among the caregiver characteristics, being in functional health, being male, and being a spouse caregiver were associated with better adjustment. Husbands evidenced the best adaptation to caregiving and daughters the poorest. Patient illness characteristics were not related to caregiver adjustment. Coping with caregiving stresses by using tension reduction and deliberate effort behaviors and managing the patient with criticism and guidance were related to poorer caregiver adjustment.