Burden and positive aspects of caregiving: cluster profiles of dementia caregiving experiences

Abstract

Objectives Although caregiver burden is common in the context of dementia caregiving, the caregiving role is linked to beneficial outcomes too. Individuals reporting higher positive aspects of caregiving tend to exhibit lower burden relative to those reporting few. The goal of this retrospective review of outpatient memory clinic medical records was to demonstrate whether and how constructs of burden and positive aspects of caregiving coexist within individual caregivers, and to explore potential contributors to caregiver profiles created based upon these constructs. Method Cluster analyses were conducted on 1160 caregivers from an initial intake interview meeting criteria on primary measures of Positive Aspects of Caregiving and the Zarit Burden Interview and repeated with 225 caregivers meeting inclusion criteria on all measures. Samples were compared for similarity, and the smaller sample (n = 225) was deemed appropriately representative. Multinomial logistic regressions examined cluster predictors in sample with 225 caregivers. Results Results suggested a three-cluster solution: a High Burden group, a High Positive Experiences group, and a Low-Moderate Experiences group showing low burden and moderate positive experiences. Greater behavioral problems predicted belonging to the High Burden cluster. Greater care recipient dependence predicted belonging to the High Positive Experiences cluster while greater independence predicted the Low-Moderate Experiences cluster. Conclusion Findings suggest that burden and positive aspects of caregiving do not simultaneously present in caregivers at high levels. Supportive caregiver interventions might be tailored to profiles demonstrated here. Future research should investigate other potential contributors to experiences of burden and positive aspects of caregiving.