Caregivers of Stroke Patient Family Members: Behavioral and Attitudinal Indicators of Overprotective Care

Abstract

Three models of the sources of overprotection in stroke patients were tested in a study of the behavioral and attitudinal concomitants of overprotective caregiving. Stroke patients and their family member caregivers were interviewed to assess feelings of overprotection, physical and mental functioning, and caregiving-related attitudes. The couples were then videotaped as they interacted on four tasks and the tapes were coded for specific behaviors and affect directed toward the patient. Strong support was found for the Resentment model that overprotection will be associated with an overcontrolling caregiving style, negative affect, and resentment toward the stroke patient. No support was found for the model that overprotection is related to overhelping. In addition, feeling overprotected was associated with patient dependency. Two conclusions are discussed: the variety of potential sources of overprotection found in the study and the importance of the emotional tone with which caregivers provide assistance.

Keywords:

• Caregiving
• Stroke
• Overprotection
• Resentment