Appraisals of strain and of gain: Effects on psychological wellbeing of caregivers of dementia patients

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Abstract
While much attention has been given to the negative impact of providing day-to-day care to an older, dependent family member, little is known about the benefits caregivers perceive and possible positive impact it may produce. The present study examined the contributions of caregivers' appraisals of role strain and of role gain in predicting both positive and negative aspects of caregiver wellbeing. Sixty-three active caregivers for dementia patients completed questionnaires measuring carerecipients' memory and behavior problems, caregivers' appraisals of strain and gain, their positive and negative affect, and other demographic and contextual factors. Results indicated that while care recipients' memory and behavior problems correlated with negative affect they did not predict positive affect. In subsequent hierarchical regression analyses, memory and behavior problems no longer predicted negative affect once appraisals of strain and of gain were entered. Both strain and gain appraisals independently predicted negative affect while neither predicted positive affect. These results suggest one pathway by which the stresses of caregiving affect wellbeing. They further suggest that positive appraisals play an important and under-recognized role in buffering stress and that they are independent of negative appraisals. Implications for caregiver research and interventions are discussed.

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