"Friendship" interactions and expression of agitation among residents of adementia care unit - Six-month observational data

"Friendships" (ongoing interpersonal interactions) and agitated behavior we re studied among 59 residents of a dementia special care unit; most residen ts had mild to moderate cognitive impairment. Behavior scan data were recor ded by trained observers over six months. Three scans per hour were conduct ed, seven days a week, between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., producing more than 17,00 0 observations. A marginal model for binary longitudinal data was developed to associate covariates with repeated observations of agitation, the depen dent variable; generalized estimating equations were used to estimate regre ssion parameters. Friendship behavior was significantly associated with (le ss) observed agitation in this group of dementia residents, controlling for additional variables expected to predict agitation. Opportunity for self-i nitiated interpersonal engagement may contribute significantly to the wellb eing of moderately impaired dementia residents. Repeated over-time assessme nts are important in understanding factors related to expression of problem behaviors in this population.