DYNAMIC PROCESSES IN HEALTH OUTCOMES AMONG CAREGIVERS OF PATIENTS WITH SPINAL-CORD INJURIES

The developmental trajectories of health outcomes in caregivers of pat ients with spinal cord injuries (SCIs) were studied as a function of c aregiver and patient characteristics. Hierarchical linear modeling ana lysis examined (a) intraindividual developmental patterns of depressiv e behavior, anxiety, and physical symptoms over the Ist year of the ca regiving career and (b) correlates of heterogeneity in the development al patterns among 62 caregivers of persons with SCIs. Physical symptom s and anxiety were highly interdependent. Anxiety was a salient predic tor of initial levels of and the rate of change in physical symptoms o f caregivers. Physical symptoms and younger patient age were significa ntly predictive of initial levels of anxiety. Physical symptoms and po sitive affect predicted initial levels of depressive behavior among ca regivers. Expressive support predicted the rate of change in anxiety a nd depressive behavior over time. These findings illustrate the value of studying caregiving as a developmental process.