Social skills and well-being among family caregivers to patients with Alzheimer’s disease

Orestes Vicente Forlenza,Flávia Araujo De Amorim,Mariana De Campos Pereira Giorgion

doi:10.1590/0101-60830000000143

Abstract

Abstract Background: Caring for a demented relative is frequently associated with burden; yet, a subset of family caregivers may experience it as rewarding. Certain characteristics, including personality factors, may render caregivers more resilient to stress and therefore attenuate the perception of burden and its impact on quality of life. Objective: To determine the association between social skills and well being among family caregivers to patients with dementia. Methods: Forty-one family caregivers to patients with dementia due to Alzheimer's disease (AD) were assessed with Social Skills Inventory (SSI-Del-Prette) and the Zarit Burden Interview; quality of life was estimated with WHO-QoL-bref questionnaire. Results: We found positive correlations between total SSI scores and the psychological (r = 0.450; p = 0.003) and environmental (r = 0.408; p = 0.008) domains of WHO-QoL-bref. The SSI factor ‘self-control of aggressiveness’ (SSI-F5) was negatively correlated with the magnitude of caregiver burden (r = -0.483; p = 0.001) and positively associated with the psychological domain of WHO-QoL-bref (r = 0.446; p = 0.003). Caregivers with better ‘self-assertion in the expression of positive affect’ (SSI-F2) also had better ‘social relationships’ according to WHO-QoL-bref (r = 0.402; p = 0.009). Discussion: The availability of more sophisticated repertoires of social skills may render family caregivers more resilient to burden, preserving their quality of life while enduring this task.

Highlights

About 80% of the amount of care required by demented patients, those with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), is provided by persons from their own households[1]
We aimed to investigate whether there is a correlation between objective measures of social skills and self-reported levels of burden and quality of life among family caregivers of AD patients
With respect to the distinct factor of the SSI-Del-Prette schedule, we found a moderate positive correlation between Factor 2 (‘self-assertion in the expression of positive affect’) and several items of the WHO-quality of life (QoL)-bref, i.e.: total score (r = 0.363; p = 0.02); psychological domain (r = 0.351; p = 0.024); social relations domain (r = 0.402; p = 0.009); environmental domain (r = 0.308; p = 0,05)

Summary

Introduction

About 80% of the amount of care required by demented patients, those with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), is provided by persons from their own households[1]. Given the highly demanding nature of this role, family caregivers may be overwhelmed by the responsibilities associated with their caring routine, which often precludes their availability to spend time at work, leisure, etc. They are prone to experience emotional and physical distress, and often develop burnout syndromes and other stress-related physical and psychological disorders[1]. Methods: Forty-one family caregivers to patients with dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) were assessed with Social Skills Inventory (SSI-Del-Prette) and the Zarit Burden Interview; quality of life was estimated with WHO-QoL-bref questionnaire. Discussion: The availability of more sophisticated repertoires of social skills may render family caregivers more resilient to burden, preserving their quality of life while enduring this task

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Conclusion