Empathy in Family Caregivers for Persons with Dementia: A Q Methodology Study

Abstract

Purpose This study was done to explore the subjective perception structure and types of empathy in family caregivers for persons with dementia (PWD). Q methodology was used. Methods Based on interviews with family caregivers and a literature review, 38 Q samples were selected. The Q sorting was conducted with 30 family caregivers. Types of empathy for these family caregivers were analyzed using PC-QUANL. Results Five types of empathy were identified: (1) Cognitive understanding of change in the state of the disease, (2) Perceiving need for assistance in the PWD, (3) Unconditionally accepting the PWD as a family member, (4) Humanly understanding the sense of loss felt by the PWD, and (5) Having compassion by generalizing the character of the disease. Conclusion Feeling empathy can be expressed in various aspects as family caregivers’ attitudes, opinions or ideas are formed through their lives in different ways. Therefore, it is not a matter of which type makes empathy better. However, because the type of family caregiver empathy is closely connected with the quality care giving in general, it is necessary to develop strategies to increase levels of empathy by taking into account the family caregivers’ type of empathy. 주요어: ì¹˜ë§¤ë ¸ì¸, 가족 돌봄 ì œê³µìž, 공감 Key Words: Dementia, Family, Caregivers, Empathy