Latent growth models of the longitudinal effects of dementia caregiving: Acomparison of African American and white family caregivers

Self-report measures of depression, physical health symptoms, and life sati sfaction were collected over a 2-year period from 197 family caregivers of dementia patients and 218 noncaregivers (controls). Latent growth models we re used to compare changes across time for African American and White careg ivers, with gender, age. and socioeconomic status serving as covariates. Re sults indicated that White caregivers sustained higher levels of elevated d epression and decreasing life satisfaction over time compared with African American caregivers. Both groups of caregivers reported increases in physic al symptoms over time. These results indicate worsening difficulties over t ime for many White caregivers. African American caregivers show more resili ence on measures of depression and life satisfaction but are still vulnerab le to increases in physical symptoms over time. Implications for additional research and clinical intervention are discussed.