Abstract
BackgroundFamily caregivers often report high levels of distress, including depressive symptoms, anxiety, and reduced quality of life. There is a need for a greater understanding of the factors influencing, explaining, and maintaining psychological distress in family caregivers. AimThe aim of this study was to examine whether avoidance strategies such as thought suppression (WBSI), psychological inflexibility (AAQ-II), and, and caregiver experiential avoidance (EACQ) predict psychological distress (BDI-II, GAD-7) and quality of life (WHOQOL) in family caregivers aged 60 and over. We hypothesized that these avoidance strategies would explain elevated levels of psychological symptoms and lower quality of life. MethodAltogether, 149 family caregivers completed self-report measures of depressive symptoms, anxiety, quality of life, thought suppression, psychological inflexibility and caregiver experiential avoidance. We conducted correlation and regression analyses to assess the associations and the predictive ability of these constructs. ResultsTogether, psychological inflexibility and thought suppression accounted for between 40 and 46% of the variance in the depression and anxiety outcomes and 15% of the variance in the physical domain of quality of life. Unwanted thoughts, the subcomponent of thought suppression, was strongly associated with symptoms of depression and anxiety, and with physical and psychological quality of life. ConclusionThought suppression and psychological inflexibility played a significant role in explaining family caregivers’ symptoms of depression and anxiety. In addition, psychological inflexibility was significantly related to quality of life. This suggests the need for acceptance-based strategies to handle thought suppression and psychological inflexibility.
Highlights
Caregivers play an essential role in proving care and assis tance to their dependent elderly family members, including daily ac tivities and medical support (Reinhard et al, 2012; Roth et al, 2015)
The aim of the current study was to examine whether thought suppression, psychological inflexibility and caregiver experi ential avoidance were associated with symptoms of depression and anxiety, and quality of life in family caregivers aged 60 and over
We hypothesized that higher levels of thought suppression (WBSI), psychological inflexibility (AAQ-II) and caregiver experiential avoidance (EACQ) would be associated with increased caregiver distress, such as symptoms of depression and anxiety and the different aspects of quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF physical, psychological, social, and environment)
Summary
Caregivers play an essential role in proving care and assis tance to their dependent elderly family members, including daily ac tivities and medical support (Reinhard et al, 2012; Roth et al, 2015). Aim: The aim of this study was to examine whether avoidance strategies such as thought suppression (WBSI), psychological inflexibility (AAQ-II), and, and caregiver experiential avoidance (EACQ) predict psychological distress (BDI-II, GAD-7) and quality of life (WHOQOL) in family caregivers aged 60 and over. We hypothesized that these avoidance strategies would explain elevated levels of psychological symptoms and lower quality of life. Method: Altogether, 149 family caregivers completed self-report measures of depressive symptoms, anxiety, quality of life, thought suppression, psychological inflexibility and caregiver experiential avoidance. This suggests the need for acceptance-based strategies to handle thought suppression and psychological inflexibility
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