Role of family adaptability in the psychological adjustment of spouse caregivers to patients with dementia.

This study examined the role of family adaptability in moderating the impact of caregiving on psychological adjustment and the relationship between adaptability and marital roles for 54 spouse caregivers to patients with dementia. Greater memory and behavior problems were related to greater burden and depression. For caregivers who were lower in adaptability, longer hours of care were related to greater depression. For caregivers higher in adaptability, hours of care were unrelated to depression. Cluster analysis identified a subset of caregivers lower in adaptability, with a partner who was severely demented, who endorsed a spouse role. These caregivers were the most depressed in the sample. Implications for service providers and suggestions for future research are discussed.