Key result
Fewer coping resources in HF caregivers are linked to greater depression and caregiver burden.
Why the study?
To identify classes of heart failure caregivers based on indicators of coping resources and stress, and examine relationships between these classes and depression, caregiver burden, and life changes.
Cross-Sectional (n=530)
Heart failure caregivers with fewer coping resources experience higher depression and burden, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to support caregiver mental health.
May warrant coping resource assessment in heart failure caregivers; hypothesis-generating for prospective intervention trials.
OBJECTIVES: To identify classes of heart failure (HF) caregivers based upon indicators of coping resources and stress, and then, to examine the relationships between the identified caregiver classes and depression, caregiver burden, and life changes. METHODS: Cross-sectional data from 530 HF caregivers were analyzed in this secondary analysis using a three-step latent class mixture model to classify caregivers based on level of resources and examine the relationship between the identified classes and depression, caregiver burden, and life changes. Using an online survey, caregivers reported on social support, problem-solving, family function, depression, caregiver burden, and life changes. RESULTS: had the best family function and reported the most positive perceptions of life changes despite low levels of social support and problem-solving. CONCLUSION: Social support, problem-solving, and family function are modifiable coping resources which may buffer stress and influence stress indicators. Caregivers with few coping resources may experience higher degrees of depression and burden, and less positive perceptions of life changes. More research is needed to examine the influence of these coping resources on caregiver adaptation to facilitate the development of targeted interventions which support caregiver mental health.
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Graven et al. (2022) conducted a cross-sectional in Heart failure caregiver stress and coping (n=530). Coping resources (social support, problem-solving, family function) was evaluated on Caregiver classes based on coping resources and stress, and their relationship with depression, caregiver burden, and life changes. Among 530 heart failure caregivers, those with few coping resources experienced higher degrees of depression and burden, and less positive perceptions of life changes.
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