a School of Psychology , University of Birmingham , Birmingham , UK.
b Children's Psychological Services - Fylde Coast , Whitegate Health Centre , Blackpool , UK.
Aging Ment Health. 2018 Mar;22(3):299-305. doi: 10.1080/13607863.2016.1248896. Epub 2016 Nov 3.
Qualitative research has suggested that spousal experiences of discontinuity in their relationship with a person who has dementia (i.e. the relationship is experienced as radically changed) may contribute to heightened feelings of burden, entrapment, isolation, guilt and intolerance of behaviours that challenge. By contrast, continuity in the relationship may contribute to a greater sense of achievement and gratification from providing care. The present study served as a quantitative test of these suggestions.
A convenience sample of 71 spouses of people with dementia completed three questionnaires - the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI), the Positive Aspects of Caregiving measure (PAC) and the Birmingham Relationship Continuity Measure (BRCM).
In accordance with the hypotheses, the experience of greater relationship continuity (higher BRCM scores) was correlated with fewer negative emotional reactions to caregiving (lower ZBI scores; rho = -.795) and more positive emotional reactions (higher PAC scores; rho = .764).
The study provided some quantitative support for suggestions arising from qualitative research about how perceptions of continuity/discontinuity in the relationship may impact on the caregiving spouse's emotional well-being. Helping couples to maintain a sense of continuity and couplehood may assist their emotional adjustment to dementia.
定性研究表明，配偶在与痴呆症患者的关系中经历的不连续性（即关系发生了根本性变化）可能会导致更高的负担感、束缚感、孤立感、内疚感和对挑战性行为的不容忍。相比之下，关系的连续性可能会增加从提供护理中获得成就感和满足感。本研究旨在对这些建议进行定量检验。
采用方便样本，共有 71 名痴呆症患者的配偶完成了三份问卷——照顾负担访谈量表（ZBI）、照顾积极方面量表（PAC）和伯明翰关系连续性量表（BRCM）。
与假设一致，较高的关系连续性体验（较高的 BRCM 得分）与对照顾的负面情绪反应（较低的 ZBI 得分；rho = -.795）和更积极的情绪反应（较高的 PAC 得分；rho =.764）呈负相关。
本研究为定性研究中提出的关于关系连续性/不连续性如何影响照顾配偶的情感幸福感的观点提供了一些定量支持。帮助夫妻保持连续性和夫妻感可能有助于他们适应痴呆症。
