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Stress, Loneliness and Depression Levels among Spousal Caregivers for Persons with Dementia Compared to Married Non-caregivers

Ryan, Sascha (2019) Stress, Loneliness and Depression Levels among Spousal Caregivers for Persons with Dementia Compared to Married Non-caregivers. Undergraduate thesis, Dublin, National College of Ireland.

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Abstract

The aims of the current study were to determine if spousal caregivers for persons with dementia would endure higher levels of stress, loneliness and depression compared to married non-caregivers, and to determine if female spousal caregivers would report higher levels of stress, loneliness and depression when compared to male caregivers in the same role. Stress, loneliness and depression were the dependent variables in the current study. The study hypothesised that spousal caregivers for persons with dementia would report higher levels of stress, loneliness and depression compared to married non-caregivers. It was also hypothesised that female spousal caregivers would report higher levels of stress, loneliness and depression compared to male caregivers in the same role. A survey containing the Perceived Stress Scale, the UCLA Loneliness Scale and Beck’s Depression Inventory was used to examine each of the variables and the survey was published into several online dementia caregiver support group pages. Data was collected from 136 participants. Two Independent Samples T-Tests were carried out to compare the mean scores of the dependent variables between spousal caregivers for people with dementia and married non caregivers, and to compare the mean scores of the dependent variables between male and female caregivers for persons with dementia. Results found that there were no significant differences between stress, loneliness and depression for spousal caregivers and married non-caregivers. The results also found that there were no statistically significant differences in stress, loneliness and depression among male and female spousal caregivers for persons with dementia. There were several implications in the current study such as age, cultural and received support differences which were not considered. Research in this field is of upmost importance as there are many gaps in the literature of the psychological wellbeing of spousal caregivers for people with dementia.

Item Type: Thesis (Undergraduate)
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > Psychology
H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > Non Profit Organisations. Voluntary Sector. > Carers
B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > Psychology > Stress (Psychology)
Divisions: School of Business > BA (Honours) in Psychology
Depositing User: Caoimhe Ní Mhaicín
Date Deposited: 30 May 2019 16:54
Last Modified: 30 May 2019 16:54
URI: https://norma.ncirl.ie/id/eprint/3796

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