The present study examined the influence of caregivers' Attachment Styles (Anxious-ambivalent and Avoidant factors) and personality traits (Neuroticism, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness) on their experiences of caring for dementia dependents. A total of 126 caregiver-dependent pairs participated in the study. Support was found for the contribution of the attachment style factors in explaining aspects of caregiver experiences. Those who chose to institutionalize dependents were higher on the Avoidance factor than those choosing to maintain them in the community. Less Anxious-ambivalent caregivers reported larger social support networks, and more satisfaction with the support received than those lower on this factor. The caregiver Anxious/ambivalence and Neuroticism dimensions seemed to function as generalized responses reflected in perceptions and appraisals of the stressful situation.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
LazarusR. S. and FolkmanS., Stress, Appraisal and Coping, Springer Publishing Company, New York, 1984.
2.
BowlbyJ., Attachment and Loss: Attachment, Basic Books, New York, 1969.
3.
BowlbyJ., Attachment and Loss: Separation, Anxiety and Anger, Basic Books, New York, 1973.
4.
BowlbyJ., Attachment and Loss: Sadness and Depression, Basic Books, New York, 1980.
5.
CostaP. T.Jr., and McCraeR. R., The NEO Personality Inventory, Psychological Assessment Resources, Odessa, Florida, 1985.
6.
HazanC. and ShaverP. R., Romantic Love Conceptualized as an Attachment Process, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 52, pp. 511–524, 1987.
7.
HazanC. and ShaverP. R., Love and Work: An Attachment-Theoretical Perspective, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 59, pp. 270–280, 1990.
8.
CollinsN. L. and ReidS. J., Adult Attachment, Working Models, and Relationship Quality in Dating Couples, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 58, pp. 644–663, 1990.
9.
SimpsonJ. A., Influence of Attachment Styles on Romantic Relationships, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 59, pp. 971–980, 1990.
10.
BartholomewK. and HorowitzL. M., Attachment Styles among Young Adults: A Test of a Four Category Model, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 61, pp. 226–244, 1991.
11.
BermanW. H. and SperlingM. B., The Structure and Function of Adult Attachment, in Attachment in Adults: Clinical and Developmental Perspectives, SperlingM. B. and BermanW. H. (eds.), The Guilford Press, New York, 1994.
12.
WestM. L. and Sheldon-KellerA. E., Patterns of Relating: An Adult Attachment Perspective, The Guilford Press, New York, 1994.
13.
AinsworthM.BleharM.WatersE., and WallS., Patterns of Attachment, Erlbaum, Hillsdale, New Jersey, 1978.
14.
LawtonM. P.MossM.KlebanM. H.GlicksmanA., and RovineM., A Two-Factor Model of Caregiving Appraisal and Psychological Well Being, Journal of Gerontology, 46, pp. 181–189, 1991.
15.
KobakR. and SceeryA., Attachment in Late Adolescence: Working Models, Affect Regulation, and Representations of Self and Others, Child Development, 59, pp. 135–146, 1988.
16.
MikulincerM.FlorianV., and WellerA., Attachment Styles, Coping Strategies, and Posttraumatic Psychological Distress: The Impact of the Gulf War in Israel, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 64, pp. 817–826, 1993.
17.
MikulincerM.FlorianV., and TolmaczR., Attachment Styles and Fear of Personal Death: A Case Study of Affect Regulation, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 58, pp. 273–280, 1990.
18.
CicirelliV. G., Attachment and Obligation as Daughters' Motives for Caregiving Behaviour and Subsequent Effect on Subjective Burden, Psychology and Aging, 8, pp. 144–155, 1993.
19.
ShaverP. R. and BrennanK. A., Attachment Styles and the “Big Five” Personality Traits: Their Connections with Each Other and with Romantic Relationship Outcomes, Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 18, pp. 536–545, 1992.
20.
FolsteinM. F.FolsteinS. E., and McHughP. R., Mini-Mental State: A Practical Guide for Grading and the Cognitive State of Patients for the Clinician, Journal of Psychiatry Research, 12, pp. 189–198, 1975.
21.
SimpsonJ. A.RholesW. S., and NelliganJ. S., Support Seeking and Support Giving within Couples in an Anxiety-Provoking Situation: The Role of Attachment Styles, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 62, pp. 434–446, 1992.
22.
FeeneyJ. A.NollerP., and HanrahanM., Assessing Adult Attachment, in Attachment in Adults: Clinical and Developmental Perspectives, SperlingM. B. and BermanW. H. (eds.), The Guilford Press, New York, 1994.
23.
EysenckH. J. and EysenckS. B. G., Manual of the Eysenck Personality Inventory, University Press, London, 1964.
24.
ZaritS. H.OrrN. K., and ZaritJ. M., The Hidden Victims of Alzheimer's Disease, New York University Press, New York, 1985.
25.
GoldD.CohenC.ShulmanK.ZuccheroC.AndresD., and EtezadiJ., Caregiving and Dementia: Predicting Negative and Positive Outcomes for Caregivers, International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 41:3, pp. 183–201, 1995.
26.
VitalianoP.YoungH., and RussoJ., Burden: A Review of Measures Used among Caregivers of Individuals with Dementia, The Gerontologist, 31:1, pp. 67–75, 1991.
27.
PoulshockS. W. and DeimlingG. T., Families Caring for Elders in Residence: Issues in the Measurement of Burden, Journal of Gerontology, 30, pp. 230–239, 1984.
28.
ZaritS. H.ToddP. A., and ZaritJ. M., Subjective Burden of Husbands and Wives as Caregivers: A Longitudinal Study, The Gerontologist, 26, pp. 260–266, 1986.
29.
SarasonI. G.LevineH. M.BashamR. B., and SarasonB. R., Assessing Social Support: The Social Support Questionnaire, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 44, pp. 127–139, 1983.
30.
GoldD.ReisM.MarkiewiczD., and AndresD., When Home Caregiving Ends: A Longitudinal Study of Outcomes for Caregivers of Relatives with Dementia, Journal of the American Geriatric Society, 43, pp. 10–16, 1995.
31.
PruchnoR. A.MichaelsJ. E., and PotashnikS. L., Predictors of Institutionalization among Alzheimer Disease Victims with Caregiving Spouses, Journal of Gerontology, 45:6, pp. 259–266, 1990.
32.
PierceG. R.SarasonI. G., and SarasonB. R., General and Relationship-Based Perceptions of Social Support: Are Two Constructs Better than One, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 61, pp. 1028–1039, 1991.
33.
SarasonI. G.SarasonB. R., and ShearinE. N., Social Support as an Individual Difference Variable: Its Stability, Origins, and Relational Aspects, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 50, pp. 845–855, 1986.
34.
BrethertonI., Attachment Theory: Retrospect and Prospect, in Growing Points of Attachment Theory and Research, BrethertonI. and WatersE. (eds.), Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development, 50:1 & 2, pp. 3–35, 1985.
