TRANSITIONS IN THE CAREGIVING CAREER - EFFECTS ON SENSE OF MASTERY

Although a sense of mastery is usually treated as a stable personal re source that can moderate the effects of stress on well-being, in this article we are interested in mastery as an outcome, examining the impa ct of transitions in the careers of Alzheimer's caregivers on their se nse of mastery. Using longitudinal data collected from 456 spouses and adult children caring for a family member with Alzheimer's disease, w e found that for those who continue to care for their relative, master y declines; for those who place their relative in a care facility, mas tery remains unchanged; and for those who experience the death of thei r relative, mastery increases. A Series of regression analyses reveale d different patterns of predictors of change in mastery over time and across transitions.