The role of online communication among spousal caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease

ABSTRACT

This study investigates (1) the importance of online communication for female caregivers (2) the impact of this form of maintaining social contact on well-being among 48 Polish spousal female caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and self-completion questionnaires. Caregivers’ online communication usage intensity was significantly associated with lower levels of depression and loneliness. Older women used online support groups to share their emotions related to the burden of providing care, to maintain a sense of social connection with other caregivers, and to access information about the disease. The results indicated Internet use has both positive and negative influences on the well-being of older women caregivers.

KEYWORDS:

• Caregiving
• communication
• Alzheimer’s disease
• older women

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to express their gratitude to the caregivers who participated in this study.

Disclosure statement

The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author. The data are not publicly available due to their containing information that could compromise the privacy of research participants.

Additional information

Funding

The authors received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.