Caregiver Thrive, Learn, & Connect: Testing the Efficacy of an Online Psychoeducational Program for Family Caregivers

Figures & data

Table 1. Week-by-week description of CaregiverTLC.

Session	Objectives	Description
1	Educate on stress effects Learn evidence-based stress reduction skills	Topics: Stress & Caregiving; Recognizing Stress; Relaxation SkillsSkills Taught: Mapping Stress, Deep Breathing, VisualizationAction Plan Options: Daily Practice of Deep Breathing or Visualization Skills Taught: Mapping Stress, Deep Breathing, Visualization Action Plan Options: Daily Practice of Deep Breathing or Visualization
2	Introduction of behavioral activation tool to manage mood	Topics: Caregiving & Your Mood; Positive Activities; Going ForwardSkills Taught: Using Positive Activities; Modifying Positive ActivitiesAction Plan Options: Positive Activities Skills Taught: Using Positive Activities; Modifying Positive Activities Action Plan Options: Positive Activities
3	Increase observance of positives in their lives to create an illustration of their care team	Topics: Defining Resilience; Finding Balance; Your Support TeamSkills Taught: Using journaling to see positives; Creating an Atlas CareMapAction Plan Options: Three Paths or Refining CareMap Skills Taught: Using journaling to see positives; Creating an Atlas CareMap Action Plan Options: Three Paths or Refining CareMap
4	Address issue of self-care, provide caregivers with insight into their own level of self-care	Topics: Caregiver Burnout; Self-Care; Tips & StrategiesSkills Taught: Incorporating Identified self-care; Thoughts and Behaviors that Prevent Self-CareAction Plan Options: Identify Areas of Self-Care or Practice Top 3 Skills Taught: Incorporating Identified self-care; Thoughts and Behaviors that Prevent Self-Care Action Plan Options: Identify Areas of Self-Care or Practice Top 3
5	Normalize caregivers’ emotions, learn strategies to practice when frustration/anger become overwhelming	Topics: Negative Emotions; Recognizing Intensity; Strategies for ManagingSkills Taught: Identifying Emotions and Intensity; Deep Breathing; Identifying Self-Talk; S.T.O.P. TechniqueAction Plan Options: Practice Daily 10 Breaths; Becoming Aware of Self-Talk; or S.T.O.P. Skills Taught: Identifying Emotions and Intensity; Deep Breathing; Identifying Self-Talk; S.T.O.P. Technique Action Plan Options: Practice Daily 10 Breaths; Becoming Aware of Self-Talk; or S.T.O.P.
6	Examine online support options. Review of skills learned, plan for future	Topics: Meaningful Connections; Review; ClosureSkills Taught: Navigation of Support Options Available OnlineActivities: Making it Personal: Planning for the Future Skills Taught: Navigation of Support Options Available Online Activities: Making it Personal: Planning for the Future

Figure 1. CONSORT flowchart of participants (Time 1 and Time 2).

Note. Randomization and withdrawal during Time 1 [T1] and Time 2 [T2]

Table 2. Demographic characteristics of caregivers by condition group.

Variable	Intervention (N = 37)		Control (N = 44)		Total (N = 81)
	n	%	n	%	n	%	χ2	P
Sex
Female	31	83.8	38	86.4	69	85.2	.11	.74
Male	6	16.2	6	13.6	12	14.8
Education
HS/Some College	7	18.9	8	18.2	15	18.5	.01	.93
College Graduate	30	81.1	36	81.8	66	81.5
Race/Ethnicity
White	25	67.6	25	56.8	50	61.7	1.61	.45
Black	12	32.4	18	40.9	30	37.0
Asian Am.			1	2.3	1	1.2
Work Status
Retired	18	48.6	19	43.2	37	45.7	2.10	.55
Full-Time	10	27.0	14	31.8	24	29.6
Part-Time	6	16.2	4	9.1	10	12.3
Unemployed	3	8.1	7	15.9	10	12.3
Yearly Family Income
<75,000	9	34.6	15	45.5	24	40.7	.71	.40
75,000 and more	17	65.4	18	54.6	35	59.3
Relationship
Adult Children	20	55.6	26	59.1	46	57.5	1.37	.71
Spouse	13	36.1	14	31.8	27	33.8
Sibling	2	5.6	1	2.3	3	3.8
Other	1	2.8	3	6.8	4	5.0
Hours Care per Week
4–9	9	24.3	8	18.2	17	21.0	1.30	.73
10–14	7	18.9	6	13.6	13	16.0
15–20	2	5.4	4	9.1	6	7.4
>20	19	51.4	26	59.1	45	55.6
Reason for Care
Dementia	26	70.3	30	68.2	56	69.1	.04	.84
Chronic Condition	11	29.7	14	31.8	25	30.9

The total sample was on average 63.38 years old (SD = 10.21) Participants in the Intervention Group were on average 62.76 years old (SD = 9.74). Participants in the Control Group were on average 63.91 years old (SD = 10.67). The Intervention Group and Control Group did not significantly differ by age, F _{(1, 79)} = .25, p = .62.

Table 3. Repeated measures time by group for caregivers’ dependent outcomes.

Outcome	Control Group		Intervention Group		F-value	p value	Cohen’s d	partial η^2
	M	SE	M	SE
Depression					F 1,79 = 8.83	.004	.52	.10
Time 1	6.46	4.53	7.46	5.05
Time 2	6.98	5.26	5.19	3.86
Self-Efficacy					F 1,79 = 8.65	.004	.51	.10
Time 1	6.54	1.56	6.11	1.83
Time 2	6.33	1.94	7.0	1.60
Burden					F 1,79 = 7.82	.006	.30	.09
Time 1	11.61	4.60	14.03	4.82
Time 2	11.95	4.40	12.35	4.89
Anxiety					F 1,79 = 4.72	.03	.29	.06
Time 1	7.52	4.89	8.97	5.84
Time 2	7.02	4.70	6.46	5.55
Gains					F 1,79 = 4.43	.04	.27	.05
Time 1	28.48	8.72	26.03	9.47
Time 2	27.14	8.91	27.73	9.47

Figure 2. Mean depression scores by group and time.

Figure 3. Mean self-efficacy scores by group and time.

Data availability statement

Data are available from the first author upon request.