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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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Emotional distress and morbidity in dementia carers
— a matched comparison of husbands and wives | | Author(s) | Chris Collins, Robert Jones |
| Journal title | International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, vol 12, no 12, December 1997 |
| Pages | pp 1168-1173 |
| Keywords | Dementia ; Family care ; Women as carers ; Husbands ; Wives ; Stress ; Sexual equality ; United Kingdom. |
| Annotation | Many research studies have found substantial mental ill-health among dementia carers, with higher levels of strain and distress found in female carers. This study aimed to replicate previous findings that women experience more strain and distress than men when caring for spouses with dementia, and to explore the underlying factors for such gender differences. The study involved the comparison of two matched groups of spouse dementia carers - husbands and wives - in the UK. Results showed that the wives' levels of strain and morale were significantly worse than husbands'. Wives were more likely to perceive themselves as not coping with their spouses' dependency; to wish to leave caregiving to someone else; and to cite more reasons for giving up. Both men and women tended to view women as better suited for the caregiving role, and wives felt a greater obligation to care. The study concluded that attitudinal and social factors are the main determinants of wives' higher levels of strain and distress. |
| Accession Number | CPA-980112405 A |
| Classmark | EA: P6:SJ: P6:SH: SNA: SNW: QNH: TM8: 8 |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
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