Caregiver forgiveness is associated with less burden and potentially harmful Behaviors

Abstract

Objectives: This study investigated whether caregiver forgiveness of care recipient's (CR's) upsetting behaviors is associated with less burden and potentially harmful behaviors (PHB) by the caregiver.

Method: Seventy-six family caregivers of persons with dementia were recruited by means of convenience sampling through two local dementia service centers in Hong Kong. Caregivers were asked to complete an anonymous questionnaire that assessed CR behavior problems and caregiver burden, PHB and forgiveness.

Results: Results showed that forgiveness partially mediated the associations between CR disruptive behaviors and caregiver burden, and between CR depression and caregiver burden. At the same time, burden partially mediated the relationship between forgiveness and PHB.

Conclusion: The associations between certain behavioral problems and burden were mediated by caregiver forgiveness. Forgiveness also predicted harmful behaviors, both directly and indirectly through burden. Future research should investigate the basis of forgiveness in dementia caregivers and whether forgiveness may constitute another dimension in caregiver interventions.

Keywords:

• dementia caregiving
• burden
• potentially harmful behaviors
• forgiveness

Acknowledgements

This study was an extension of the second author's Post-Graduate Diploma in Psychology thesis, completed under the supervision of the first author for submission to the Department of Psychological Studies, Hong Kong Institute of Education. We thank Heidi Siu of the Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation for assistance with data collection.