Caregiver Burnout, Dementia, Dementia of Alzheimer Type, Loneliness, Relation, Interpersonal, Relations, Family, Social Stress
Conditions
Brief summary
The purpose of the Daily Study of Caregiving Relationships and Health is to learn how caregiving relationships and social connectedness are associated with dementia caregivers' health, health behaviors, and diurnal patterns of salivary cortisol. This is a pilot study wherein the purpose is to test the feasibility and acceptability of study protocols.
Detailed description
The purpose of the Daily Study of Caregiving Relationships and Health is to learn how caregiving relationships and social connectedness are associated with dementia caregivers' health, health behaviors, and diurnal patterns of salivary cortisol. Investigators are asking caregivers to complete 14-days of surveys which ask about their relationships and health behaviors, in addition to 2 longer surveys (baseline and 3-month follow up). Investigators hypothesize that on days when caregivers receive more emotional support, they will report better health behaviors (e.g., improved sleep quality). On days when caregivers experience greater 1) strain and 2) loneliness, they will report poorer health behaviors. Information about which aspects of social relationships and social connectedness most affect health will be used to inform interventions programs.
Interventions
OTHERSocial relationships
Exposure to social interactions with spouse, friends, and family. Perceived loneliness, emotional strain, and emotional support.
Sponsors
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
Study design
Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Inclusion criteria
* Spouse or partner to an individual living with ADRD who has received a diagnosis from a physician * Aged 18 years or older Provides assistance with at least one instrumental activities of daily living or activities of daily living * Not paid to provide care * Cares for someone with a global deterioration score of 1 to 5 (early to mid-stage dementia) * Has reliable access to email and text messaging, and smart phone device * Live within 40 miles of UT Health San Antonio (if completing saliva collection protocol)
Exclusion criteria
* Inability to read and speak English or Spanish * Vision or hearing impairment affecting ability to complete study protocols (e.g., blindness) Additional
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Frequency of daily health symptoms | 2 weeks | Frequency of adverse health symptoms experienced by participant (e.g., fatigue; 0 to 21) |
| Perceived sleep quality | 2 weeks | Perceived sleep quality the night prior (1 to 5) |
| Physical activity | 2 weeks | Participation in at least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity (binary) |
| Consumption of alcoholic beverages | 2 weeks | Consumption of 1 or more alcoholic beverages (binary) |
| Potential binge eating behaviors | 2 weeks | Frequency of binge eating behaviors, including consuming unusually large amount of food, feeling out of control, and unplanned and repetitive eating (0 to 33) |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Total salivary cortisol | 2 weeks | Area under the curve score to approximate total cortisol output during the day (μg/dL) |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed