PREDICTING LONGITUDINAL CHANGES IN CAREGIVER PHYSICAL AND MENTAL-HEALTH - A STRESS PROCESS MODEL

Alzheimer's family caregivers (N = 122) reported on physical and menta l health, as well as stress process variables, al baseline and at a 1- year follow-up. Hierarchical regression analyses of stress process mod els revealed that increases in primary stressors (e.g., patient self-c are and behavioral problems) did not directly affect changes in the me ntal and physical health outcome variables, However, analyses of model s of direct, mediated, and moderated effects revealed that psychosocia l resource variables (appraisals, coping responses, and social support ) were related to caregiver outcomes over time through several mechani sms. In particular, benign appraisals of stressors, the use of approac h coping, and greater levels of social support were associated with mo re positive caregiver health outcomes over time.