New research, 'Caregiving, residence, race, and depressive symptoms,' is the subject of a report. 'The objective of this study is to evaluate the psychological responses to caregiving between black and white dementia caregivers measured by self-reports of depressive symptoms evaluating the impact of sub-components of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and residential arrangements of the caregiving dyad. The method included 87 intergenerational family caregivers enrolled in the Duke Caregiver Study (50 white and 37 black),' investigators in the United States report (see also Mental Health).
'Total CES-D and the four sub-components were modeled as dependent measures in separate linear regressions. Three models were examined. The first model tested race, living arrangements, and their interaction. The second model adjusted for age, gender, education, income, health status, cultural justification for caregiving, crime concerns, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and glycosylated hemoglobin. A third model added adjustment for caregiver burden. The results showed that there was a significant race by residence interaction for CES-D, somatic symptoms and depressive affect such that when the dyads are living apart-with the care recipient in their own home or in an institutional setting-whites reported more depressive symptoms than blacks. When the dyads lived together, this was reversed, and blacks reported higher depressive symptoms than whites,' wrote I.C. Siegler and colleagues, University Medical Center.
The researchers concluded: 'To conclude, all the parameters such as race, living arrangements, and the components of depression need to be taken into account to understand the impact of caregiving on the emotional health of caregivers.'
Siegler and colleagues published their study in Aging & Mental Health (Caregiving, residence, race, and depressive symptoms. Aging & Mental Health, 2010;14(7):771-8).
For additional information, contact I.C. Siegler, Duke University Medical Center, Dept. of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Durham, NC 27710 USA.
The publisher of the journal Aging & Mental Health can be contacted at: Taylor & Francis Group Ltd, 2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxford OX14 4RN United Kingdom.
Keywords: City:Durham, State:NC, Country:United States, Depression, Mental Health.
This article was prepared by Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2010, Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week via NewsRx.com.
