Intervention effects on dementia caregiving interaction A stress-adaptation modeling approach

Objectives: Our purpose was to evaluate the adequacy of a stress adaptation frame work for guiding intervention research on caregivers and patients co ping with Alzheimer's disease, and to test the effect of a cognitive stimul ation intervention as an interactive outcome. Methods: Using a repeated mea sures design, 87 caregiver-patient dyads were randomized to one of three co nditions: active cognitive stimulation, passive stimulation, or control. As sessments occurred at preintervention, postintervention (3 months), and 9 m onths. Results: The LISREL model was entirely satisfactory by the chi-squar e goodness-of-fit criteria. However, the coefficients associated with the p aths between the mediating concepts and the dyadic interaction differed sig nificantly at 3 months and 9 months. The intervention group caregivers were shown to be more satisfied with their interaction with the impaired member . Discussion: The improvement in caregiver satisfaction was attributed to a n attenuation of the behavioral stressor effects through increased use of a problem-focused coping strategy, namely, positive reappraisal of the stres sful situation.