Health of spouse caregivers of dementia patients: the role of personality and social support.

ABSTRACT

Providing care to a spouse with dementia is a challenging activity. Why one spouse caregiver copes effectively whereas another becomes demoralized, unable to cope, and at heightened risk for negative health outcomes is not well understood. There is increasing evidence that individual differences associated with effects of caregiving through the subjective appraisal of the stressor are related to health outcomes. In this study, measures of social support and personality were examined to determine their influence on health outcomes for 51 spouse caregivers of dementia patients. The finding of a relationship between health outcomes and personality and social support may help practitioners target and improve interventions with dementia patients and their families.