Emotion Recognition and Reactivity in Persons With Neurodegenerative Disease Are Differentially Associated With Caregiver Health

Abstract Background and Objectives Motivated by the high rates of health problems found among caregivers of persons with neurodegenerative disease, we examined associations between deficits in two aspects of care recipients’ socioemotional functioning and their caregivers’ health. Research Design and Methods In 2 studies with independent samples (N = 171 and 73 dyads), caregivers reported on care recipients’ emotion recognition and emotional reactivity. Caregiver health was assessed using both self-report measures (Studies 1 and 2) and autonomic nervous system indices (Study 2). Results Lower emotion recognition in care recipients was linearly associated with worse self-reported health, faster resting heart rate, and greater physiological reactivity to an acoustic startle stimulus in caregivers. These effects held after accounting for a variety of risk factors for poor caregiver health, including care recipients’ neuropsychiatric symptoms. Emotional reactivity showed a quadratic association with health, such that the lowest and highest levels of emotional reactivity in care recipients were associated with lower self-reported health in caregivers. Discussion and Implications Results shed light on the unique associations between two aspects of care recipients’ emotional functioning and caregivers’ health. Findings suggest potential ways to identify and help caregivers at heightened risk for adverse health outcomes.

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Poor Disgust Suppression Is Associated with Increased Anxiety in Caregivers of People with Neurodegenerative Disease

The Journals of Gerontology Series B ◽

10.1093/geronb/gbaa056 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Jenna L Wells ◽

Alice Y Hua ◽

Robert W Levenson

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Emotion Regulation ◽

Neurodegenerative Disease ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Acoustic Startle ◽

Emotional Behavior ◽

Self Report ◽

Expressive Suppression ◽

Suppression Condition ◽

Anxiety Depression

Abstract Objectives Caregivers of persons with neurodegenerative disease have high rates of mental health problems compared to noncaregiving adults. Emotion regulation may play an important role in preserving caregivers’ mental health. We examined the associations between caregivers’ emotion regulation measured in several ways (ability, habitual use, and self-ratings) and their mental health symptoms. Method Ninety-one caregivers of persons with neurodegenerative disease participated in a laboratory-based assessment of emotion regulation. In two series of tasks, caregivers were given different instructions (no instruction, suppress) regarding altering their emotional behavioral responses to disgusting films and acoustic startle stimuli. Caregivers’ emotional behavior was measured via behavioral coding and caregivers rated “how much emotion” they showed during each task. Anxiety, depression, and habitual use of expressive suppression were measured via questionnaires. Results Poor emotion regulation in the disgust suppression condition (i.e., greater emotional behavior) was associated with greater anxiety. Associations were not found for the startle suppression condition, depression, or self-report measures of emotion regulation. Discussion Findings suggest that caregivers who are unable to suppress emotional behavior in response to disgusting stimuli may be at greater risk for anxiety. Given high levels of anxiety in caregivers, it may be useful to evaluate interventions that improve ability to downregulate emotional behavior.

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FAMILY CAREGIVER SOCIAL ISOLATION AND HEALTH: FINDINGS IN THE NATIONAL SURVEY OF CAREGIVING

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz038.1645 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S438-S439

Author(s):

Janet S Pohl ◽

Janice F Bell ◽

Nancy Woods ◽

Daniel J Tancredi

Keyword(s):

Social Isolation ◽

Social Relationships ◽

Social Relations ◽

Intervention Studies ◽

Informal Caregiver ◽

Adverse Health Outcomes ◽

Caregiver Health ◽

Reported Health ◽

Multiple Domains ◽

Independent Domain

Abstract Social relationships are important for family/informal caregiver health. Due to caregiving commitments caregivers are at risk for social isolation. Social isolation is associated with adverse health outcomes in the general population, but few studies have examined this association among caregivers. Employing the Convoy Model of social relations, we examined associations between caregiver self-reported health and social isolation—operationalized as a measure that included multiple domains and as specific domains modeled independently. Social isolation prevalence was 24.74% (n=2,175); mean health was 3.46 (SE=0.02) on a scale of 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent). In adjusted models, domain-inclusive social isolation was inversely associated with health (β=-.07; CI=-0.14,-0.02, p=0.01). In independent domain adjusted models, only participation in club activities was associated with health (β=-.22; CI=-0.35,-0.10, p<0.01). Social isolation predicted caregiver health, with club participation explaining much of the variance. Domain inclusive social isolation measures can identify targets for intervention studies to improve caregiver health.

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The impact of both spousal caregivers’ and care recipients’ health on relationship satisfaction in the Caregiver Health Effects Study

Journal of Health Psychology ◽

10.1177/1359105317699682 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 24 (12) ◽

pp. 1744-1755 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Joan K Monin ◽

Becca Levy ◽

Margaret Doyle ◽

Richard Schulz ◽

Trace Kershaw

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Relationship Satisfaction ◽

Health Effects ◽

Health Study ◽

Cardiovascular Health Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Caregiver Health ◽

Care Recipients ◽

Reported Health ◽

The Impact

This study examined, with a sample of older adult, caregiving couples, whether each spouse’s health was associated with their own and their partner’s relationship satisfaction. Dyads ( n = 233; age = 64–99 years) in the Caregiver Health Effects Study, ancillary to the Cardiovascular Health Study, reported relationship satisfaction, depressive symptoms, disability, and self-reported health. The cross-sectional Actor–Partner Interdependence Model showed that for both caregivers and care recipients, greater depressive symptoms and lower self-reported health related to lower relationship satisfaction (actor effects). Caregivers had lower relationship satisfaction when they were more disabled (actor effect) and when care recipients were more depressed (partner effect).

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The Pain Situation of Older Home-Care Recipients and Influencing Factors

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.662 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 204-205

Author(s):

Dagmar Dräger ◽

Reinhold Kreutz ◽

Adelheid Kuhlmey ◽

Andrea Budnick ◽

Dagmar Draeger

Keyword(s):

Chronic Pain ◽

Home Care ◽

Older People ◽

Pain Intensity ◽

Prevalence Rate ◽

Severe Pain ◽

Self Report ◽

Primary Data ◽

Common Symptom ◽

Care Recipients

Abstract Chronic pain is a common symptom among older people. The international prevalence rate reaches 50% for older home-care recipients (aged ≥60). The most common causes of pain among older people are degenerative arthropathy and musculoskeletal diseases. Care recipients (81% aged ≥65) constitute a specific sub-group among pain patients, due to the restrictions they experience. In Germany, the prevalence rate in this group is 70%. Currently, no comprehensive information on the pain situation of older home-care recipients exists in Germany. The findings presented are based on a cross-sectional study of older (aged ≥65) home-care recipients (SGB XI) in Berlin, with chronic pain (n=225), capable of self-report (MMST≥18). Structured interviews comprised the primary data source. The pain situation was determined using the German Brief Pain Inventory (BPI-NH). Multiple regression analysis was applied to test how the most severe pain (dependent variable) was influenced by socio-demographic and medical parameters, mental and physical restrictions and pain medication. Analyses of the pain situation show a value of M=4.81 (SD±1.88) on the BPI intensity index, and a BPI pain interference index of M=5.47 (SD±2.15). The most intense pain averaged 6.96 (SD±2.15). On average, respondents reported 16.20 (SD±13.25) pain locations (range: 0-65). The number of pain locations, alongside other factors, had a significant influence, R²=0.038 (corrected R²=0.034), F (1.219) = 8.760, p<0.01), on pain intensity. The findings show severe pain intensity among older home-care recipients not reported in previous findings (e.g. in long-term in-patient care). Action in medical care, nursing care and educational aspects is urgently needed.

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Emotional reactivity and the association between psychopathy-linked narcissism and aggression in detained adolescent boys

Development and Psychopathology ◽

10.1017/s0954579412001186 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 25 (2) ◽

pp. 473-485 ◽

Cited By ~ 33

Author(s):

Luna C. Muñoz Centifanti ◽

Eva R. Kimonis ◽

Paul J. Frick ◽

Katherine J. Aucoin

Keyword(s):

Emotional Reactivity ◽

Violent Behavior ◽

Proactive Aggression ◽

Self Report ◽

Autonomic Reactivity ◽

Adolescent Boys ◽

Emotional Stimuli ◽

Detention Center ◽

Callous Unemotional ◽

Callous Unemotional Traits

AbstractDifferent patterns of emotional reactivity characterize proactive and reactive functions of aggressive behavior, and theory also suggests a link of both types with narcissism. How people with narcissistic traits respond emotionally to competitive scenarios could influence their aggressiveness. Participants were 85 adolescent boys from a detention center. Several indices of emotional functioning were assessed, including attentional bias to negative emotional stimuli and psychophysiological responding. In addition, we included self-report and laboratory measures of aggression and measures of psychopathy-linked narcissism, callous–unemotional traits, and impulsivity. Psychopathy-linked narcissism was uniquely related to unprovoked aggression (i.e., proactive aggression) and to heightened attention to pictures depicting others’ distress. Compared with those scoring low on narcissism, those high on narcissism, who were the least physiologically reactive group, evinced greater proactive aggression, whereas those showing a pattern of coactivation (i.e., sympathetic and parasympathetic autonomic reactivity) evinced greater reactive aggression. Results are consistent with descriptions of narcissistic individuals as being hypervigilant to negative cues and exhibiting poor emotion regulation. These characteristics may lead to aggressive and violent behavior aimed at maintaining dominance over others.

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Variable Response of Norepinephrine Transporter to Traumatic Stress and Relationship to Hyperarousal

Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience ◽

10.3389/fnbeh.2021.725091 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 15 ◽

Author(s):

Chiso Nwokafor ◽

Lidia I. Serova ◽

Arax Tanelian ◽

Roxanna J. Nahvi ◽

Esther L. Sabban

Keyword(s):

Traumatic Stress ◽

Neuropsychiatric Symptoms ◽

Acoustic Startle ◽

Norepinephrine Transporter ◽

Brain Regions ◽

Mrna Levels ◽

Sprague Dawley ◽

Post Traumatic Stress ◽

Variable Response ◽

Western Blots

The noradrenergic systems play a key role in stress triggered disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We hypothesized that traumatic stress will alter expression of norepinephrine transporter (NET) in locus coeruleus (LC) and its target brain regions which could be related to hyperarousal. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to single prolonged stress (SPS) and several weeks later the LC was isolated. NET mRNA levels in LC, determined by RT-PCR, displayed variable response with high and low responsive subgroups. In different cohort, acoustic startle response (ASR) was measured 2 weeks after SPS and levels of NET mRNA and protein in LC determined. The high NET responsive subgroup had greater hyperarousal. Nevertheless, NET protein levels, as determined by western blots, were lower than unstressed controls in LC, ventral hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex and displayed considerable variability. Hypermethylation of specific CpG region in promoter of SLC6A2 gene, encoding NET, was present in the low, but not high, NET mRNA responsive subgroup. Taken together, the results demonstrate variability in stress elicited changes in NET gene expression and involvement of epigenetic changes. This may underlie mechanisms of susceptibility and resilience to traumatic stress triggered neuropsychiatric symptoms, especially hyperarousal.

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Temperament and Coping Activity Under Stress of Changing Intensity Over Time

European Psychologist ◽

10.1027/1016-9040/a000121 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 17 (4) ◽

pp. 326-336 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Irena Heszen

Keyword(s):

Stress Intensity ◽

Emotional Reactivity ◽

Self Report ◽

Sensory Sensitivity ◽

And Coping ◽

First Myocardial Infarction ◽

Different Levels ◽

Over Time

Temperament is probably an important factor that influences coping activity. The framework of the study was the Regulative Theory of Temperament by Strelau, where six temperamental traits are distinguished: emotional reactivity, perseveration, activity, briskness, sensory sensitivity, and endurance. These traits were hypothesized to be connected to coping activity in accordance with their psychological characteristics. It was also expected that the associations between temperament and coping activity should depend on stress intensity. Participants were 278 diabetics and 232 patients after first myocardial infarction (MI). The study was longitudinal and two diseases had been purposely selected so as to represent stress intensity either increasing (in diabetes) or decreasing (after MI) over time. Temperamental traits as well as coping activity components: cognitive appraisal, affect, and coping strategies were measured using self-report questionnaires. As hypothesized, temperamental traits were connected to coping activity. Phase-related changes in coping activity confirmed an increase in stress levels in diabetics, while cardiac patients tended to experience the situation as more challenging. While the expectation referring to the differential role of temperament under different levels of stress intensity was not confirmed, the connections of temperament with coping activity were found to decrease under long-term stress.

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Multimodal emotion perception in young and elderly patients with multiple sclerosis

10.31234/osf.io/n47cg ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Maxime Montembeault ◽

Estefania Brando ◽

Kim Charest ◽

Alexandra Tremblay ◽

Élaine Roger ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Emotion Recognition ◽

Real Life ◽

Emotion Perception ◽

Recognition Task ◽

Self Report ◽

Self Monitoring ◽

Facial Emotions ◽

Multimodal Emotion Recognition ◽

The Impact ◽

Better Than

Background. Studies suggest that emotion recognition and empathy are impaired in patients with MS (pwMS). Nonetheless, most studies of emotion recognition have used facial stimuli, are restricted to young samples, and rely self-report assessments of empathy. The aims of this study are to determine the impact of MS and age on multimodal emotion recognition (facial emotions and vocal emotional bursts) and on socioemotional sensitivity (as reported by the participants and their informants). We also aim to investigate the associations between emotion recognition, socioemotional sensitivity, and cognitive measures. Methods. We recruited 13 young healthy controls (HC), 14 young pwMS, 14 elderly HC and 15 elderly pwMS. They underwent a short neuropsychological battery, an experimental emotion recognition task including facial emotions and vocal emotional bursts. Both participants and their study informants completed the Revised-Self Monitoring Scale (RSMS) to assess the participant’s socioemotional sensitivity. Results. There was a significant effect of age and group on recognition of both facial emotions and emotional vocal bursts, HC performing significantly better than pwMS, and young participants performing better than elderly participants (no interaction effect). The same effects were observed on self-reported socioemotional sensitivity. However, lower socioemotional sensitivity in pwMS was not reported by the informants. Finally, multimodal emotion recognition did not correlate with socioemotional sensitivity, but it correlated with global cognitive severity. Conclusion. PwMS present with multimodal emotion perception deficits. Our results extend previous findings of decreased emotion perception and empathy to a group of elderly pwMS, in which advancing age does not accentuate these deficits. However, the decreased socioemotional sensitivity reported by pwMS does not appear to be observed by their relatives, nor to correlate with their emotion perception impairments. Future studies should investigate the real-life impacts of emotion perception deficits in pwMS.

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The Effects of COVID-19 Home Confinement in Dementia Care: Physical and Cognitive Decline, Severe Neuropsychiatric Symptoms and Increased Caregiving Burden

American Journal of Alzheimer s Disease & Other Dementias® ◽

10.1177/1533317520976720 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 35 ◽

pp. 153331752097672

Author(s):

Flávia Borges-Machado ◽

Duarte Barros ◽

Óscar Ribeiro ◽

Joana Carvalho

Keyword(s):

Daily Living ◽

Neuropsychiatric Symptoms ◽

Exercise Program ◽

Well Being ◽

The Body ◽

Subjective Burden ◽

Neuropsychiatric Inventory ◽

Caregiving Burden ◽

Care Recipients ◽

Contingency Plans

Purpose: This study aims to analyze home confinement impact on individuals with neurocognitive disorders (NCD) through informal caregiver’s perspective and examine how it has affected caregiving burden. Methods: Thirty-six caregivers (64.94 ± 13.54 years, 41.7% female) of individuals with NCD (74.28 ± 6.76 years, 66.7% female) selected from the Body & Brain exercise program were interviewed over the phone. The following instruments were used: Barthel Index (BI) to assess care recipients’ ability to function independently on activities of daily living (ADL), the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) to evaluate neuropsychiatric symptoms, and the CarerQol-7D/ CarerQol-VAS to determine caregiver subjective burden/well-being. Results: Pre and post-confinement comparisons showed that care recipients significantly declined their independence in ADL (p = 0.003) and increased NPI total score (MD = 5.72; 95% CI: 1.19 to 10.25, p = 0.015). As for caregivers, results also showed an increased caregiving burden (MD = −0.17; 95% CI: −0.27 to −0.08; p = 0.001) and a decline in their well-being (p = 0.015). Discussion: COVID-19 crisis sheds light on how imperative it is to find solutions and design contingency plans for future crisis, in order to ensure properly sustained support to dementia caregiving dyads and mitigate caregivers’ burden.

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Measuring empathy: reliability and validity of the Empathy Quotient

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291703001624 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 34 (5) ◽

pp. 911-920 ◽

Cited By ~ 420

Author(s):

E. J. LAWRENCE ◽

P. SHAW ◽

D. BAKER ◽

S. BARON-COHEN ◽

A. S. DAVID

Keyword(s):

Emotional Reactivity ◽

Reliability And Validity ◽

Cognitive Empathy ◽

Self Report ◽

Reactivity Index ◽

Empathy Quotient ◽

Inference Test ◽

Eyes Task ◽

Test Retest Reliability ◽

State Inference

Background. Empathy plays a key role in social understanding, but its empirical measurement has proved difficult. The Empathy Quotient (EQ) is a self-report scale designed to do just that. This series of four studies examined the reliability and validity of the EQ and determined its factor structure.Method. In Study 1, 53 people completed the EQ, Social Desirability Scale (SDS) and a non-verbal mental state inference test, the Eyes Task. In Study 2, a principal components analysis (PCA) was conducted on data from 110 healthy individuals and 62 people reporting depersonalisation (DPD). Approximately 1 year later, Study 3, involved the re-administration of the EQ (n=24) along with the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI; n=28). In the last study, the EQ scores of those with DPD, a condition that includes a subjective lack of empathy, were examined in depth.Results. An association was found between the Eyes task and EQ, and only three EQ items correlated with the SDS. PCA revealed three factors: (1) ‘cognitive empathy’; (2) ‘emotional reactivity’, and (3) ‘social skills’. Test–retest reliability was good and moderate associations were found between the EQ and IRI subscales, suggesting concurrent validity. People with DPD did not show a global empathy deficit, but reported less social competence.Conclusions. The EQ is a valid, reliable scale and the different subscales may have clinical applications.

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