TY - JOUR
T1 - Relationship quality and sense of coherence in dementia
T2 - Results of a European cohort study
AU - Marques, Maria J.
AU - Woods, Bob
AU - Hopper, Louise
AU - Jelley, Hannah
AU - Irving, Kate
AU - Kerpershoek, Liselot
AU - Meyer, Gabriele
AU - Bieber, Anja
AU - Stephan, Astrid
AU - Sköldunger, Anders
AU - Sjölund, Britt Marie
AU - Selbaek, Geir
AU - Rosvik, Janne
AU - Zanetti, Orazio
AU - Portolani, Elisa
AU - de Vugt, Marjolein
AU - Verhey, Frans
AU - Gonçalves-Pereira, Manuel
PY - 2019/5
Y1 - 2019/5
N2 - Objective: Quality of life of people with dementia and their family carers is strongly influenced by interpersonal issues and personal resources. In this context, relationship quality (RQ) and sense of coherence (SOC) potentially protect and promote health. We aimed to identify what influences RQ in dyads of people with dementia and their carers and to examine differences in their perspectives. Methods: Cross-sectional data were used from the Actifcare cohort study of 451 community-dwelling people with dementia and their primary carers in eight European countries. Comprehensive assessments included the Positive Affect Index (RQ) and the Orientation to Life Questionnaire (SOC). Results: Regression analyses revealed that RQ as perceived by people with dementia was associated with carer education, stress, and spouse caregiving. RQ as perceived by carers was associated with carer stress, depression, being a spouse, social support, reported neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia, and carer SOC. Neuropsychiatric symptoms and carer stress contributed to discrepancies in RQ ratings within the dyad. The only factor associated with both individual RQ ratings and discrepancies was carer stress (negative feelings subscore). No significant differences in the overall perception of RQ were evident between spouses and adult children carers, but RQ determinants differed between the two. Conclusions: In this European sample, carer SOC was associated with carer-reported RQ. RQ determinants differed according to the perspective considered (person with dementia or carer) and carer subgroup. A deeper understanding of RQ and its determinants will help to tailor interventions that address these distinct perspectives and potentially improve dementia outcomes.
AB - Objective: Quality of life of people with dementia and their family carers is strongly influenced by interpersonal issues and personal resources. In this context, relationship quality (RQ) and sense of coherence (SOC) potentially protect and promote health. We aimed to identify what influences RQ in dyads of people with dementia and their carers and to examine differences in their perspectives. Methods: Cross-sectional data were used from the Actifcare cohort study of 451 community-dwelling people with dementia and their primary carers in eight European countries. Comprehensive assessments included the Positive Affect Index (RQ) and the Orientation to Life Questionnaire (SOC). Results: Regression analyses revealed that RQ as perceived by people with dementia was associated with carer education, stress, and spouse caregiving. RQ as perceived by carers was associated with carer stress, depression, being a spouse, social support, reported neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia, and carer SOC. Neuropsychiatric symptoms and carer stress contributed to discrepancies in RQ ratings within the dyad. The only factor associated with both individual RQ ratings and discrepancies was carer stress (negative feelings subscore). No significant differences in the overall perception of RQ were evident between spouses and adult children carers, but RQ determinants differed between the two. Conclusions: In this European sample, carer SOC was associated with carer-reported RQ. RQ determinants differed according to the perspective considered (person with dementia or carer) and carer subgroup. A deeper understanding of RQ and its determinants will help to tailor interventions that address these distinct perspectives and potentially improve dementia outcomes.
KW - Alzheimer disease
KW - dementia
KW - dyadic perspective
KW - family care
KW - relationship quality
KW - sense of coherence
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85062789270&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/gps.5082
DO - 10.1002/gps.5082
M3 - Article
C2 - 30729572
AN - SCOPUS:85062789270
VL - 34
SP - 745
EP - 755
JO - International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
JF - International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
SN - 0885-6230
IS - 5
ER -