Physical and Mental Health Correlates of Self-Efficacy in Dementia Family Caregivers |
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Authors: | Nika R. George Ann Steffen |
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Affiliation: | Department of Psychology, University of Missouri–St. Louis, St. Louis, MO |
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Abstract: | This study examined whether self-efficacy for controlling upsetting caregiving thoughts would longitudinally predict mental and physical health as well as utilization of psychotropic medications in help-seeking dementia family caregivers (N = 53). Positive associations were found between self-efficacy and self-reported mental health and physical health subscales of the Short Form Health Questionnaire-12, and negative correlations were found between self-efficacy for controlling upsetting thoughts about caregiving and the number of psychotropic medications being utilized both cross-sectionally and longitudinally. These results suggest that self-efficacy for controlling upsetting thoughts may be a fruitful target area for further intervention research with dementia family caregivers. |
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Keywords: | Alzheimer’s disease medication issues psychotropic medication physical health mental health |
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