Alzheimer's disease: family structure and dynamics

Juan A Álvarez-Ormazábal

doi:10.3390/ejihpe1010001

Abstract

This research focused on the study of structure, and dynamic of families containing one member diagnosed with Alzheimer´s disease. The interest in the changes during the cycle life and the study in the family psychology area have brought about new instruments whose objective is to obtain a better understanding of the systemic phenomena. One of these is the fourth version of a questionnaire created by Olson, Gorall y Tiesel (2006): FACES-IV, a test whose purpose is to evaluate a family´s cohesion and adaptability. The investigation was based on two central objectives: one was to examine the psychometric properties of a translated version of FACES-IV. The other was to observe to what extent the disease has influenced the cohesion and adaptability of the family in function of its structure and type. These objectives were realized by administering the test to 135 family members, coming from 69 families. The psychometric properties revealed a lack of validity in the unbalanced scales, but satisfactory in the cohesion and flexibility scales. The Olson’s model did not adequately fit the data. It was observed that the diagnosis of Alzheimer´s affected the family´s cohesion, satisfaction, and general functioning, in accordance with the family´s type and the caregiver.

Highlights

This research focused on the study of structure, and dynamic of families containing one member diagnosed with Alzheimers disease
The interest in the changes during the cycle life and the study in the family psychology area have brought about new instruments whose objective is to obtain a better understanding of the systemic phenomena
One of these is the fourth version of a questionnaire created by Olson, Gorall y Tiesel (2006): FACES-IV, a test whose purpose is to evaluate a familys cohesion and adaptability

Summary

No equilibradas

El vínculo o lazo emocional que los miembros de la familia tienen los unos hacia los otros. Alta autonomía e independencia, baja lealtad y baja vinculación afectiva dentro de los miembros del sistema familiar. Proximidad extrema entre los miembros, alta sobre identificación con la familia, alta lealtad y consenso con la familia. La comunicación es vista como una dimensión facilitadora que ayuda a la familia a alterar sus niveles de cohesión y flexibilidad. Procedimiento Se diseñó un estudio pre-experimental ex post facto con el fin de estudiar las diferencias existentes en cohesión y flexibilidad familiar en función de determinadas variables sociodemográficas y clínicas. Con el fin de adaptar la escala a los objetivos de la investigación se les pidió a los participantes que la cumplimentaran teniendo en cuenta su consideración del funcionamiento familiar antes de la enfermedad y en la actualidad. Un 66,70% de los participantes estaba casado y un 73,30% obtenían ingresos medios

Franja Etaria n n

Mujer n

Findings

Comunicación Satisfacción