Abstract
Objectives:This research documents spousal accounts of daily symptoms and behaviors of their husbands or wives with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and assesses how MCI-related symptoms and care needs are associated with spouse care partners' psychological well-being and biomarkers of physiological wear and tear. Method:Thirty spouse care partners participated in a 7-day diary study and reported on behavior problems associated with MCI as well as daily stressors and strains they experienced. They also provided saliva samples on 4 of the study days. Results:Multilevel models revealed daily variability and change in psychological affect and the diurnal cortisol rhythm. Daily primary stressors, everyday secondary strains, and marital interactions predicted these changes. Discussion:The findings document the negative physiological effects of having a spouse with MCI and provide new details on probable causes of psychological and biological distress. They shed light on MCI-specific interventions to address couples' needs before severe disease progression occurs that could interfere with spouses' ability to provide home-based care and support.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 653-664 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| Journal | Journals of Gerontology - Series B Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences |
| Volume | 66 B |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Nov 2011 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- Cortisol
- Daily diaries
- Distress
- Mild cognitive impairment
- Stress process model
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Geriatrics and Gerontology
- Gerontology
- Clinical Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Medicine(all)
Cite this
Effects of daily stressors on the psychological and biological well-being of spouses of persons with mild cognitive impairment. / Savla, Jyoti; Roberto, Karen A.; Blieszner, Rosemary; Cox, Matthew; Gwazdauskas, Frank.
In: Journals of Gerontology - Series B Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, Vol. 66 B, No. 6, 11.2011, p. 653-664.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Effects of daily stressors on the psychological and biological well-being of spouses of persons with mild cognitive impairment
AU - Savla, Jyoti
AU - Roberto, Karen A.
AU - Blieszner, Rosemary
AU - Cox, Matthew
AU - Gwazdauskas, Frank
PY - 2011/11
Y1 - 2011/11
N2 - Objectives:This research documents spousal accounts of daily symptoms and behaviors of their husbands or wives with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and assesses how MCI-related symptoms and care needs are associated with spouse care partners' psychological well-being and biomarkers of physiological wear and tear. Method:Thirty spouse care partners participated in a 7-day diary study and reported on behavior problems associated with MCI as well as daily stressors and strains they experienced. They also provided saliva samples on 4 of the study days. Results:Multilevel models revealed daily variability and change in psychological affect and the diurnal cortisol rhythm. Daily primary stressors, everyday secondary strains, and marital interactions predicted these changes. Discussion:The findings document the negative physiological effects of having a spouse with MCI and provide new details on probable causes of psychological and biological distress. They shed light on MCI-specific interventions to address couples' needs before severe disease progression occurs that could interfere with spouses' ability to provide home-based care and support.
AB - Objectives:This research documents spousal accounts of daily symptoms and behaviors of their husbands or wives with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and assesses how MCI-related symptoms and care needs are associated with spouse care partners' psychological well-being and biomarkers of physiological wear and tear. Method:Thirty spouse care partners participated in a 7-day diary study and reported on behavior problems associated with MCI as well as daily stressors and strains they experienced. They also provided saliva samples on 4 of the study days. Results:Multilevel models revealed daily variability and change in psychological affect and the diurnal cortisol rhythm. Daily primary stressors, everyday secondary strains, and marital interactions predicted these changes. Discussion:The findings document the negative physiological effects of having a spouse with MCI and provide new details on probable causes of psychological and biological distress. They shed light on MCI-specific interventions to address couples' needs before severe disease progression occurs that could interfere with spouses' ability to provide home-based care and support.
KW - Cortisol
KW - Daily diaries
KW - Distress
KW - Mild cognitive impairment
KW - Stress process model
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=80054889624&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=80054889624&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1093/geronb/gbr041
DO - 10.1093/geronb/gbr041
M3 - Article
C2 - 21734229
AN - SCOPUS:80054889624
VL - 66 B
SP - 653
EP - 664
JO - Journals of Gerontology - Series B Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences
JF - Journals of Gerontology - Series B Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences
SN - 1079-5014
IS - 6
ER -