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Publication
Emotion regulation in dementia caregiving: The role of neuropsychiatric symptoms and attachment orientation
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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Family caregivers are usually the main source of support for persons living with dementia, being exposed to a loved one’s
suffering, which can lead to experiencing strong and negative emotions. This study aimed to identify factors capable of
explaining individual differences in the way caregivers regulate their emotions. This cross-sectional study included 78
informal caregivers (M = 64.84 years; SD = 13.32) and 84 controls (non-caregivers) (M = 77 years; SD = 7.59).
Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS), attachment orientations, and emotion regulation were measured using self-report
scales. Caregivers of persons living with dementia used more expressive suppression in comparison to non-caregivers.
NPS and attachment avoidance were associated with expressive suppression. Moderation analyses showed that NPS only
predicted expressive suppression when attachment avoidance was low or medium. The present study showed that
caregivers are more likely to suppress their emotions in the presence of NPS, especially those with lower/middle levels of
attachment avoidance. Psychological interventions targeting emotion regulation should be offered especially to caregivers that face NPS of persons living with dementia and present lower/middle levels of attachment avoidance.
Description
Keywords
Dementia Neuropsychiatric symptoms Attachment Emotion regulation
Citation
Brandão, T., Brites, R., Hipólito, J., Nunes, O., & Tomé Pires, C. (2023). Emotion Regulation in Dementia Caregiving: The Role of Neuropsychiatric Symptoms and Attachment Orientation. Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology. https://doi.org/10.1177/08919887231195228
Publisher
SAGE Publications Inc.