Testing a Relational Model for Health Communication Competence among Caregivers for Individuals with Alzheimer's Disease

Abstract

The Relational Model of Health Communication Competence suggests that health-care participants' level of communication competence is positively related to their achieving desired physiological and psychological health outcomes. This article provides a partial test of the model by examining the relationships between communication competence, social support and cognitive depression among lay caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's disease. The study provides validation for the model by demonstrating that the communication competence of the caregivers is positively related to important psychological health outcomes, such as high levels of social support, and decreases in cognitive depression. Implications of these findings and directions for future inquiry are examined.