Lives in transition : caregiving and bereavement adjustment among spousal dementia caregivers : a grounded theory study
Year: 2002
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Lives In Transition: Caregiving And Bereavement Experiences Among Spousal \nDementia Caregivers: A Grounded Theory Study \nThis large scale research project examined caregiving and bereavement \nadjustment among spousal dementia caregivers. The thesis begins by outlining a range \nof theoretical models of stress and coping, depression, and anticipatory grief that have \nbeen proposed to explain dementia caregiving and bereavement adjustment. This is \nfollowed by a critical evaluation of the existing research literature on bereavement \noutcomes and predictors of caregiving and bereavement adjustment among spousal \ndementia caregivers. To date, few theoretical models have conceptualised caregiving \nand bereavement as a single, chronic process. The available evidence suggests that \nwhilst spousal dementia caregivers typically experience a long and exhausting \ncaregiving career, they experience relatively few bereavement adjustment difficulties. \nThis has been attributed to mediating factors such as the end of caregiving strain, \nanticipatory grief, and social support. However, our knowledge about the process of \ncaregiving and bereavement adjustment among spousal dementia caregivers; and the \ntransitional experiences that underpin such adjustment are poorly described in the \nliterature. \nThe grounded theory approach (Glaser & Strauss, 1967; Strauss & Corbin, \n1990) was employed to investigate the caregiving and bereavement experiences of \nfive participant spousal dementia caregivers. The aim of the study was to develop a \ntheoretical understanding of the process of caregiving and bereavement adjustment. A \nmodel incorporating five transitions of participants' caregiving and bereavement \nexperiences is proposed. In each transition a number of key attributes are described. \nThese attributes emerged from analysis of participants' interview data about \ncaregiving and bereavement experiences. A key finding from this study is that two \nparticipants reported they were still having difficulty in coming to terms with negative \nexperiences of professional support during caregiving. The overall study findings are \ndiscussed in relation to previous research findings regarding dementia caregiving and \nbereavement adjustment. Finally, the clinical healthcare implications and potential for \nfuture research are outlined.
Author: Paul A. Waring
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1675436000