J Korean Geriatr Soc.  2007 Dec;11(4):221-228.

Correlation between Caregiver's Personality traits and Burden in Caregiver of Dementia

• Kang JW
• Lee JH
• Lee DW
• Kim MJ

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relation between burden of caregivers in patient with dementia and personality trait of caregivers. METHODS: We interviewed 47 patients with dementia and their caregivers. We assessed patient factors with MMSE, Neuropsyhiatric Iventory(NPI), Activities of Daily Living(ADL) and Seoul-Instrumental Activities of Daily Living(S-IADL) scales. Caregiver factors were assessed by Beck Depression Inventory, Eysenck personality questionnaire(EPQ). We used Burden Interview(BI) to measure caregivers' burden. RESULTS: Among patient factors, NPI scores showed positive correlation with Burden Index(BI)(p<0.05). Among the caregiver factors, neuroticism showed positive correlation of marginal significance with Burden Index(BI)(p<0.06). Caregivers' neuroticsm, depressive symptoms and patients' NPI could explain 19% of caregivers' burden. NPI signi- ficantly affected caregivers' burden(beta=0.334, p<0.05) CONCLUSION: In desigining of the psychosocial service for caregivers of dementia, the psersonaly factors of the caregivers should be taken into account.

Keyword

Caregiver; Caregiver burden; Depressive symptom; Neuroticism

MeSH Terms

Caregivers*
Dementia*
Depression
Humans
Weights and Measures