Purpose: This study examined whether recalled childhood parental emotional abuse and support were associated with emotional reactivity to network stress among middle-aged and older adults. Design and Methods: Hypotheses were tested by performing 2-level multilevel modeling analysis on 787 participants aged 33-83 who participated in the Daily…

Purpose: This article examines resilience at older ages, focusing on the relationships between quality of life (qol) and adversity. Our objectives are to identify (a) the basis of adversity, (b) the characteristics of resilient individuals, and (c) the attributes that attenuate the full impact of adversity. Design and Methods: Resilience is…

Purpose: We examined characteristics, responses, and psychological well-being of care partners who support and assist older adults recently diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Design and Methods: Based on a sample of 106 care partners of community residents diagnosed with MCI at memory clinics, we conducted face-to-face interviews…

Examined whether positive and negative social ties moderate effects of negative daily events on psychological distress of 110 older adults. Effect of negative daily events on psychological distress significantly decreased as positive social ties increased. Negative social ties did not interact with negative daily events to influence psychological…

Conducted meta-analysis of 14 studies to determine gender differences in caregiving stressors and burden. Found essentially no significant gender differences in functional impairment of frail care recipient or total caregiver involvement in care or in money management tasks. Female caregivers were more likely to carry out personal care and…

Examined strategies used by 170 Alzheimer's disease caregivers to cope with memory deficits, communication impairments, and decline of loved one. Wishfulness was related to more depressed affect, regardless of stressor type. Relaxation in response to memory deficits, and acceptance in dealing with communication impairments and decline of loved one…

Presents view of caregiver stress as consequence of process comprising number of interrelated conditions, including the socioeconomic characteristics and resources of caregivers and the primary and secondary stressors to which they are exposed. Claims coping and social support can potentially intervene at multiple points along the stress process.…

Investigated relationship between life events and alcohol behavior among those 60 years of age and older (N=1,410) in two retirement and two age-hetereogeneous communities. Found, contrary to expectations, the experience of life events pointed toward a decrease in drinking. Social support networks were not significant mediators of the impact of…

Explores the relationship between stressful life events, coping mechanisms, and illness in 200 rural elderly. Cluster analysis produced four groups with different degress of stress, health, and coping patterns. Groups with the highest stress experienced the poorest health. (JAC)

Conducted in-depth interviews with 89 caregiving spouses to identify problems and coping techniques. Found the diversity of problems encountered by respondents required a varied repertoire of coping techniques. Caregivers showed general preference for managing situations on their own. Findings have implications for design of caregiver support…

Self-reports of frequency of crying episodes are described for two nonclinical samples of younger and older adult men and women. Comparison of samples revealed no evidence for either a decreased or increased frequency of crying among the older sample. Crying episodes function as an adaptive coping response to and should not be automatically…

Describes Time Off Promotes Strength (TOPS), program for caregivers of Alzheimer's victims which provides in-home and day program services. Explains that, through application of service/training model adapted from Global Deterioration Scale, TOPS maintains high quality of services with limited but highly trained professional staff. (Author/NB)

Purpose: Longitudinal research in dementia has acknowledged the importance of transitions during the course of family caregiving. However, long-term adaptation to institutionalization has received little attention. This study attempts to describe caregivers' adaptation (changes in stress, well-being, and psychosocial resources) to placement up to…

Purpose: We examined whether written emotional disclosure reduces stress and improves health outcomes for family caregivers of physically frail and cognitively impaired older adults, as it has been shown to do for certain student and clinical populations. Design and Methods: Primary caregivers of older adults attending a day program were randomly…

Examined coping patterns, management stimulation strategies, and support factors associated with well-being in 58 families with member having Alzheimer's disease. Found variations in coping, management, and support correlates of well-being for three caregiver groups (husbands, wives, children). Groups differed in type of behaviors they found…