PERSONALITY-TRAITS AS DETERMINANTS OF BURDEN AND HEALTH COMPLAINTS INCAREGIVING

This study tested predictions specifying the influence of caregiver pe rsonality traits on negative outcomes of caregiving, health complaints and burden. Two-hundred and thirteen caregivers, who were caring for family members with dementia, were interviewed and their relatives wer e assessed on cognitive status and aggression. At follow-up conducted twenty-four months later, forty-five caregivers were still continuing to provide home care for their dependents. Caregivers who scored highe r on a measure of neuroticism experienced higher levels of burden and health complaints both at initial and follow-up assessment. Caregiver extraversion-introversion did not influence the experience of caregivi ng. At both initial and final assessment, the ability to enjoy some as pects of caregiving, recreational activities, and satisfaction with so cial support from family and friends mitigated negative outcomes of ca regiving, while appraising the dependent as more troublesome increased negative outcomes. Caring for more cognitively impaired and more aggr essive dependents and being female increased negative outcomes initial ly. Personality traits and most other study variables demonstrated sig nificant continuity across time for caregivers continuing home care.