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Articles

Depressive symptoms in caregivers immediately after stroke

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Pages 187-194 | Received 27 Nov 2018, Accepted 03 Mar 2019, Published online: 01 Apr 2019
 

ABSTRACT

Background: Caregivers of stroke survivors often suffer depressive symptoms that interfere with their own health. Early recognition may lead to attenuation of symptoms and better health and well-being for caregivers.

Objective: We examined characteristics of caregivers and stroke survivors associated with caregivers’ depressive symptoms in the early poststroke period.

Methods: We conducted a prospective, longitudinal exploratory observational study with a convenience sample of 63 caregivers of older adult (≥ 65 years) stroke survivors recruited from urban acute-care settings. We enrolled caregivers by 2 weeks poststroke (T1) and revisited them 4 weeks later (T2). Depressive symptoms were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. A separate unadjusted linear mixed model was computed to explore significant associations between each caregiver or stroke-survivor characteristic and depressive symptoms.

Results: Caregivers, on average, reported mild depressive symptoms at T1 and T2. Each of the following characteristics was independently associated with caregiver depressive symptoms over the first 6 weeks poststroke: caregiver uncertainty (p < 0.001), perceived stress (p < 0.001) but not cortisol levels (p = 0.858 on waking, p = 0.231 evening), coping (p < 0.001), social support (p = 0.006), race (p = 0.022), income (p = 0.001), time spent on care (p = 0.039), and stroke-survivor race (p = 0.033) and functional status (p = 0.003). At T2, caregiver depressive symptoms were correlated with evening cortisol level (p = 0.001).

Conclusions: Caregiver and stroke-survivor characteristics may help identify caregivers at highest risk for early depressive symptoms and guide interventions aimed at their resolution.

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by grants from the John A. Hartford Foundation’s Patricia G. Archbold Scholars Award Program; National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Nursing Research (T32NR009356); Neuroscience Nursing Foundation; Sigma Theta Tau International Xi Chapter; and the Frank Morgan Jones Fund. We acknowledge the current funding for Eeeseung Byun by the National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Nursing Research (K23NR017404).

Supplementary Data

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed here

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the John A. Hartford Foundation;National Institute of Nursing Research [K23NR017404]; National Institute of Nursing Research [T32NR009356]; Neuroscience Nursing Foundation; Frank Morgan Jones Fund; Sigma Theta Tau International Xi Chapter.

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