Resilience Among Caregivers of Injured Service Members: Finding the Strengths in Caregiving.

Laura E Dreer, Molly K Cox, Alexandra McBrayer, William H Neumeier, Cassandra Herman, Laurie A Malone

Journal: Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation 2020;100(4S):S76-S84

PMID: 30684488

Full Text on Elsevier Science View on PubMed

Abstract

OBJECTIVE

To examine the relationships between caregiver resilience and a comprehensive set of sociodemographic and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) predictors among both caregivers and injured service members.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional analysis of an observational cohort.

SETTING

Community dwelling.

PARTICIPANTS

Caregivers (n=87) who provide instrumental or emotional support to injured service members (n=73)(N=160).

INTERVENTIONS

Not applicable.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

The Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale 25-item version.

RESULTS

Higher caregiver resilience scores were related to lower depressive symptom severity, greater health responsibility, physical activity, nutrition, spiritual growth, interpersonal relations, stress management, and problem-solving orientation. A multivariable regression model showed that spiritual growth and aspects of problem-solving orientation were significantly related to resilience.

CONCLUSIONS

Results highlight the relationships between resilience and spirituality, problem-solving orientation, and aspects of HRQOL among caregivers of injured service members. These findings have important implications for caregiver behavioral health programs designed to promote resilience and draw upon caregiver strengths when taking on a caregiver role. Approaches that include a more integrative medicine or strengths-based emphasis may be particularly beneficial when working with families of injured military.

Address: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Alabama, the United States. Electronic address: [email protected].; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Alabama, the United States.; School of Health Professions, UAB-Lakeshore Research Collaborative, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, the United States.; School of Health Professions, UAB-Lakeshore Research Collaborative, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, the United States; Department of Health Behavior, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, the United States.

DOI: 10.1016/j.apmr.2018.12.027

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MeSH Terms: Adult, Caregivers, Cross-Sectional Studies, Depression, Female, Humans, Independent Living, Male, Middle Aged, Military Personnel, Occupational Injuries, Quality of Life, Regression Analysis, Resilience, Psychological