Abstract
This study examined the differences between two groups of caregivers following a novel intervention. Caregivers who reported clinically significant change scores on the COPM satisfaction scale engaged in more social activities and made comments indicating they had moved beyond the burdens of caregiving than caregivers who did not. These findings suggest the importance of addressing caregivers’ social participation to possibly increase caregiver satisfaction and decrease burden.
Primary Author and Speaker: Patricia Watford
Contributing Authors: Karen Atler
A study published in 2015 by the National Alliance for Caregiving and the AARP Public Policy Institute estimated that 43.5 million adults in the United States provided care to another person during the previous year. As the population continues to age, the number of caregivers needed will increase.
Many studies have shown that caregivers experience multiple stressors due to the difficulties of caregiving, known as caregiver burden, that impact the health of the caregiver and the person receiving care (Moghimi, 2007). In addition, when faced with an adverse situation, some individuals stay focused on the initial diagnosis, symptoms, and burdens of a situation, but others transform through the experience and discover positive aspects of their new life (Dubouloz, King, Paterson, Ashe, Chevrier, & Moldoveanu, 2010). One model of transformation, which could offer insight into how caregivers adjust to their situation is the Process of Transformation Model (Dubouloz, et al., 2010).
A caregiving study published in 2018 described an intervention to increase meaningful participation in occupations for women spousal caregivers. The intervention consisted of the Daily Experiences of Pleasure, Productivity, and Restoration Profile (PPR Profile), a time-use diary, and the Journal of Activities and Experiences (JAE), a reflective journal (Watford, Jewell, & Atler, 2018). The study found that one group of caregivers reported clinically significant satisfaction scores following the intervention, while another group experienced a decline in satisfaction.
The specific research questions for this study were as follows: (a) “What are the time use and associated experience differences between caregivers who reported clinically significant changes in satisfaction related to occupational goals and caregivers who did not,” and (b) “Do the caregivers’ reflections and comments reflect different phases of transformation?” The researchers utilized a descriptive case study methodology to provide a secondary analysis of qualitative and quantitative data from the earlier study. Participants, female, 55 years of age or older, married, and assisted their spouse with cognitive/physical care, were recruited via social media (n = 8). Instruments used to gather data include the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), a self-report standardized measure, the PPR Profile, and the JAE. Data gathered from the COPM was analyzed by calculating the change score for the performance and satisfaction section for each participant. Comments from the PPR Profile and the JAE were deductively analyzed by both researchers.
Participants chosen for this study had clinically significant scores for satisfaction (+2.0), referred to as the high group, and those who scored the lowest, referred to as the low group. When analyzing data from the PPR Profile, it was discovered that participants in the high group spent twice as much time socializing as the low group, and participated in more social activities. When looking at the Process of Transformation Model, the high group exhibited characteristics of being in the second and the third phase, whereas the low group, made comments indicative of the first phase and a few statements indicative of the second phase. This study is important to occupational therapy practice because it highlights the impact of social interactions on caregiver satisfaction and offers a possible explanation for the positive and negative experiences of caregivers related to the transformative process.
Dubouloz, C. J., King, J., Paterson, B., Ashe, B., Chevrier, J., & Moldoveanu, M. (2010). A model of the process of transformation in primary care for people living with chronic illnesses. Chronic Illness, 6(4), 282-293. doi:10.1177/1742395310383340
Moghimi, C. (2007). Issues in caregiving: The role of occupational therapy in caregiver 381 training. Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation, 23(3), 269-279. 382 doi:10.1097/01.TGR.0000284770.39958.79
Watford, P., Jewell, V., & Atler, K. (2018). Increasing meaningful occupation for women who provide care for their spouse: A Pilot Study. OTJR: Occupation, Participation and Health, 1539449219829849. doi:10.1177/1539449219829849