A Psychoeducational Intervention to Reduce Distress in Hispanic Family Caregivers

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of offering a psychoeducational intervention, in a group format, to Hispanic/Latino family caregivers of dementia victims. The final sample size was 70 primary caregivers who volunteered to participate in the study: 43 were in the intervention program and 27 were on a waiting list for 3 months. Pre/post comparisons were made between those participating in the specially designed culturally sensitive 8-week class (that taught several specific cognitive and behavioral skills for coping with the frustrations associated with caregiving) and those who remained on the waiting list for that same time period. Those in the class reported significantly fewer depressive symptoms, and showed a trend for increased control of feelings of anger and frustration, compared to those on the waiting list, who did not improve on any measure. Limitations of the study include lack of random assignment, absence of systematic follow-up, and unavoidable use of measures not designed for, or normed with, Hispanic caregivers. Nevertheless, results support the feasibility of providing “coping classes” (in Spanish) to distressed caregivers, and encourage further research, with more appropriate and sensitive measures, to assist this distressed population in their coping efforts.