NCJ Number
164414
Journal
Journal of Elder Abuse and Neglect Volume: 8 Issue: 1 Dated: (1996) Pages: 69-80
Date Published
1996
Length
12 pages
Annotation
Using data from Pillemer and Suitor's survey of caregivers to the elderly with Alzheimer's disease, this study investigated the relationship between characteristics of caregivers' networks and caregivers' violent ideation toward the care-recipient.
Abstract
The data were collected between January 1989 and March 1992 during 2-hour interviews with individuals who were identified as the primary caregivers to elderly relatives with some form of irreversible dementia. Only the 202 caregivers whose elderly relatives were living in the community were included in the study. The mean age of the caregivers was 55 years. Respondents were asked if they ever feared that they would become violent with the care recipient. Thirty-eight (18.8 percent) reported such a fear. Fourteen reported that they had been violent. Caregivers were asked a series of questions to define their social network, and then they were asked about characteristics of those network members. Data analyses tested whether the study variables were related to the caregivers' fear of acting violently, using chi-square tests to determine if the categorical variables were related to the dichotomous dependent variable and using t-tests for the two subgroups classified on the dependent variable. Controlling for previously investigated relationship characteristics, the findings show that those caregivers who had network members with caregiving experience were less likely to have violent feelings toward their care recipients. Networks, especially status-similar networks, often bring support to caregivers, but they also are frequently accompanied by higher stress levels for the recipient. 2 tables and 14 references