Affiliated-individuation as a mediator of stress and burden in caregivers of adults with dementia.

The purpose of this study was to test a midrange model based on Modeling and Role-Modeling Theory. The self-care resource of affiliated-individuation was tested to determine its mediational qualities between the stress and burden of caregiving and caregiver life satisfaction. The sample of 107 family caregivers of adults with dementia completed measures of stress, burden, affiliation, individuation, and life satisfaction. All variables were correlated in the expected direction. Affiliated-individuation decreased the effects of stress and burden on caregiver life satisfaction, lending support for the theory-based model.