Abstract Objectives. The current study examined the relationship between psychological well-being and caring related stressors, coping strategies and Expressed Emotion (EE) in older family carers looking after their son or daughter who has an intellectual disability (ID). Additionally, two methods used to measure EE, the traditional Five Minute Speech Sample (FMSS) and the Preschool Five Minute Speech Sample (PFMSS), were compared. Design. A cross-sectional design with one group of participants was used to analyse the relationships between well-being and caring related stressors, coping strategies and EE in the parent in the family who provided most of the day-to-day support for the adult with ID. Method. Fifty-six participants completed a speech sample which was coded using the FMSS and the PFMSS. Participants completed the Carers' Assessment of Difficulties Index (CADI), Shortened Ways of Coping Revised Questionnaire (SWQ-R), General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and Adaptive Behaviour Scale - Residential and Community: Second Edition (ABS- RC:2). Results. The two different methods used to measure EE significantly differed in terms of classification of overall EE. The majority of older family carers experienced average levels of psychological well-being, but high EE. Wishful thinking coping was found to mediate the relationship between stressors and psychological well-being and between problem behaviour and psychological well-being, resulting in lower psychological well-being. Conclusions. Overall, the findings do not support the common perception that caring for an adult son or daughter with ID is overwhelmingly burdensome. The findings seem to support the 'adaptional' hypothesis, which suggests that over the years, caregiving becomes easier and families better adjust to their caregiving role. The difficulties with using the FMSS and the PFMSS with adults with ID were discussed and theoretical and clinical implications of the research were explored.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:577630 |
| Date | January 2011 |
| Creators | Mensink, Anna Maria Rica Gesina |
| Publisher | University of East Anglia |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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