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The dementias and strokes are chronic conditions often occurring at older ages. Most sufferers are cared for at home and, in this context, many research studies have described high levels of stress experienced by their carers. The present study, looking mainly at spouse carers of stroke victims (N = 36) or older confused people (N = 37), examined the possibility that the ways in which carers cope may be associated with their levels of stress and depression. A number of measures of behaviour disturbance and coping were developed and utilized. Multiple regression analyses supported the involvement of some aspects of coping in relation to carer stress and depression, particularly the coping strategy of Non-confronting and a Quality of Coping index--the former being positively and the latter negatively associated with stress and depression. Implications for intervention work with carers of stroke victims or carers of older confused people are discussed.
Neil Matson (Thu,) studied this question.