Modeling caregiver adaptation over time: The longitudinal impact of behavior problems

Although cross-sectional research has established the link between care dem ands and various indicators of caregiver adaptation, few studies have exami ned the impact of care recipients' problematic behavior over time. The pres ent analysis determines the importance of behavior problems when predicting rates of change in subjective stressors (role overload and role captivity) and depression. Using 4-wave longitudinal data (N = 137) on dementia careg ivers, the authors fit individual growth curve models for care demands (i.e ., behavior problems, activities of daily living dependencies, and cognitiv e impairment), subjective stressors, and depression. Subsequent structural equation models found that increases in behavior problems were most likely to predict increases in role overload. The findings emphasize the deleterio us long-term impact of behavior problems on individuals' emotional adaptati on to caregiving.