Parent-Child Relationships and Caregiver Support in Dementia
Author Information
Author(s): Wood Kristie, Chow Denise, Vu Thi Hoang, Monin Joan
Primary Institution: Colorado University Anschutz School of Medicine
Hypothesis
Is early parent-child relationship quality associated with caregiver burden and perceived support among adult children of parents with dementia?
Conclusion
Early positive parent-child relationships may enhance adult children's perceptions of support from their parents with dementia, but do not reduce caregiver burden.
Supporting Evidence
- Children who reported more care and less overprotection in their early relationships felt more supported by their parents.
- There was no significant link between early relationship quality and current caregiver burden.
Takeaway
If kids had a good relationship with their parents when they were young, they might feel more supported now that their parents have dementia, but it doesn't make taking care of them any easier.
Methodology
Adult children of parents with dementia completed self-report measures to assess early parent-child relationship quality, caregiver burden, and perceived support.
Limitations
The study does not establish a causal relationship between early relationship quality and caregiver burden.
Participant Demographics
Participants were primarily Non-Hispanic (92%) and White (72%), with a mean age of 47.53 years.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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