The psychological effects of caring for a family member with dementia

Objectives: To assess the psychological effects of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), including perception of aging, in a cohort of participants who were either diagnosed with SLE or had an affected family member. Methods: Over a period of 1 year, we conducted once-monthly face-to-face interviews with 12 participants. The participants were from 4 related families and include 7 females and 5 males. Three participants had a confirmed diagnosis of SLE. Spouses were also included in this study to assess transitivity of the psychological signs of SLE. Responses to structured interview questions were analyzed to assess the perception of aging. Results: The major complaints in participants diagnosed with SLE were pain and psychological stress. Nephrotic syndrome, urinary tract infection, weight disorders and increased need for psychosocial support were common in the participants’ medical history. Qualitative analysis of questionnaires completed by participants with SLE revealed a correlation of “feeling old” with the non-resolution of health complaints. Family members who did not have SLE also reported “feeling old”. Complaints of stress, anxiety, nervousness and lack of enjoyment of life were common in those who were diagnosed with SLE, as well as those who were not. All spouses reported experiencing digestive disorders, hemorrhoids as well as various phobias, regardless of whether their partners had a confirmed SLE diagnosis. Conclusions: In this study, we found that participants with SLE or those who had a close family member with SLE displayed psychological signs of aging. All participants had a predisposition to anxiety, while spouses developed various phobias. Statement of novelty: We show that individuals with SLE and close family members have an increased self-perception of aging.

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Perceived Burden of Informal Caregivers of a Chronically Ill Older Family Member

GeroPsych ◽

10.1024/1662-9647/a000042 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 24 (3) ◽

pp. 143-154 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Elmar Gräßel ◽

Raffaela Adabbo

Keyword(s):

Family Member ◽

Informal Caregiver ◽

Chronically Ill ◽

Stress Model ◽

The Past ◽

Perceived Burden ◽

Hypothetical Construct ◽

Care Situation ◽

The Impact ◽

Further Development

The burden of caregivers has been intensively researched for the past 30 years and has resulted in a multitude of individual findings. This review illustrates the significance of the hypothetical construct of perceived burden for the further development and design of the homecare situation. Following explanations regarding the term informal caregiver, we derive the construct burden from its conceptual association with the transactional stress model of Lazarus and Folkman. Once the extent and characteristics of burden have been set forth, we then present the impact of perceived burden as the care situation. The question of predictors of burden will lead into the last section from which implications can be derived for homecare and relief of caregivers.

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The Effect of Suicide-Related Internet Use on Users’ Mental Health

Crisis ◽

10.1027/0227-5910/a000201 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 34 (5) ◽

pp. 348-353 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Hajime Sueki

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Young Adults ◽

Suicidal Ideation ◽

Internet Use ◽

Panel Study ◽

Psychological Effects ◽

The Internet ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Suicide Methods ◽

Internet Users

Background: Previous studies have shown that suicide-related Internet use can have both negative and positive psychological effects. Aims: This study examined the effect of suicide-related Internet use on users’ suicidal ideation, depression/anxiety tendency, and loneliness. Method: A two-wave panel study of 850 Internet users was conducted via the Internet. Results: Suicide-related Internet use (e.g., browsing websites about suicide methods) had negative effects on suicidal ideation and depression/anxiety tendency. No forms of suicide-related Internet use, even those that would generally be considered positive, were found to decrease users’ suicidal ideation. In addition, our results suggest that the greater the suicidal ideation and feelings of depression and loneliness of Internet users, the more they used the Internet. Conclusion: Since suicide-related Internet use can adversely influence the mental health of young adults, it is necessary to take measures to reduce their exposure to such information.

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Affirmative Action and Leadership Attitudes in Brazilian Women Managers

Journal of Personnel Psychology ◽

10.1027/1866-5888/a000039 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 139-143 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Gazi Islam ◽

Sarah E. S. Zilenovsky

Keyword(s):

Affirmative Action ◽

Latin American ◽

Women Managers ◽

Psychological Effects ◽

Preferential Selection ◽

Justice Perceptions ◽

First Time ◽

The Relationship

This note examines the relationship between affirmative action (AA) program perceptions and women’s self-ascribed capacity and desire to become leaders. We propose that women who believe that their organization implements a program of preferential selection toward women will experience negative psychological effects leading to lowered self-expectations for leadership, but that this effect will be moderated by their justice perceptions of AA programs. We test this proposition empirically for the first time with a Latin American female sample. Among Brazilian women managers, desire but not self-ascribed capacity to lead was reduced when they believed an AA policy was in place. Both desire’s and capacity’s relationships with belief in an AA policy were moderated by justice perceptions.

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