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Family Caregivers’ Patterns of Positive and Negative Affect *
Author(s) -
Robertson Suzanne M.,
Zarit Steven H.,
Duncan Larissa G.,
Rovine Michael J.,
Femia Elia E.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
family relations
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1741-3729
pISSN - 0197-6664
DOI - 10.1111/j.1741-3729.2007.00436.x
Subject(s) - affect (linguistics) , psychology , clinical psychology , developmental psychology , communication
Stressful and positive family caregiving experiences were examined as predictors of caregivers’ patterns of positive and negative affect in a sample of families providing care for a relative with dementia ( N = 234). Four affect pattern groups were identified: (a) Well Adjusted (i.e., high positive affect, low negative affect); (b) Ambiguous (i.e., low on both positive and negative affect); (c) Intense (i.e., high on both positive and negative affect); and (d) Distressed (i.e., high negative affect, low positive affect). A multivariate model that included demographic characteristics and indicators of stressful and positive experiences of caregiving yielded 2 significant discriminant functions that served to classify caregivers correctly into their known affect groups. Implications for improving intervention efforts targeting family caregivers are discussed.