Social Support, Social Problem-Solving Abilities, and Adjustment of Family Caregivers of Stroke Survivors
Abstract
Grant JS, Elliott TR, Weaver M, Glandon GL, Raper JL, Giger JN. Social support, social problem-solving abilities, and adjustment of family caregivers of stroke survivors.
Objective
To determine contributions of social support and social problem-solving abilities in prediction of adjustment of family caregivers of stroke survivors.
Design
Descriptive.
Setting
Two rehabilitation facilities (1 private, 1 state) in the southeastern United States.
Participants
Fifty-two family caregivers (46 women, 6 men) of stroke survivors (28 women, 24 men).
Interventions
Not applicable.
Main Outcome Measures
Predictor variables were social support and social problem-solving abilities. Outcome measures of caregiver adjustment were depressive symptomatology, well-being, and general health. Participants completed these measures 1 to 2 days before discharge from inpatient rehabilitation and at 5, 9, and 13 weeks postdischarge in the home.
Results
Trajectory analysis indicated higher levels of social support were associated with lower levels of caregiver depressive symptomatology and higher levels of well-being and general health, independent of social problem solving. A greater negative problem orientation was associated with higher levels of depressive symptomatology and lower levels of well-being. A more positive problem orientation was associated with greater increases in general health. The strength or slope of this positive relation lessened over time.
Conclusions
Social support and the emotion-focused component of social problem solving, problem orientation, independently contribute to caregiver adjustment. Interventions that provide social support and assist caregivers to develop more adaptive abilities toward problem solving may be beneficial.
aSchool of Nursing, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL
bDepartment of Psychology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL
cDepartment of Health Services Administration, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL
dDepartment of Medicine-Infectious Diseases, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL
eSchool of Nursing, University of California, Los Angeles, CA.
Reprint requests to Joan S. Grant, DSN, RN, CS, University of Alabama, School of Nursing, NB #407, 1701 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35294-1210
Supported by the National Institute of Nursing Research (grant no. 1R15NR04724-01), the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and the Neuroscience Nursing Foundation of the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses.
No commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit upon the author(s) or upon any organization with which the author(s) is/are associated.
ABSTRACT