@article{GellertHaeuslerGholamietal.2017,
  author    = {Gellert, Paul and H{\"a}usler, Andreas and Gholami, Maryam and Rapp, Michael Armin and Kuhlmey, Adelheid and Nordheim, Johanna},
  title     = {Own and partners' dyadic coping and depressive symptoms in individuals with early-stage dementia and their caregiving partners},
  series = {Aging \& Mental Health},
  volume    = {22},
  journal   = {Aging \& Mental Health},
  number    = {8},
  publisher = {Routledge, Taylor \& Francis Group},
  address   = {Abingdon},
  issn      = {1360-7863},
  doi       = {10.1080/13607863.2017.1334759},
  pages     = {1008 -- 1016},
  year      = {2017},
  abstract  = {Objectives: In patients with early-stage dementia and their caregiving partners, reciprocal dyadic coping (DC) is crucial for preventing or reducing depressive symptoms in both partners. This study examines the relationships between 'own DC' and 'perceived partner DC' with depressive symptoms in couples coping with dementia on individual (actor effects) and cross-person (partner effects) levels. Method: 164 individuals (82 patients with early-stage dementia and their 82 caregiving partners; ND = 82 dyads) participated in this prospective study with measures (DC, depressive symptoms, and dementia severity) taken at baseline and at six months. Each partner evaluated their own and the perceived partner DC. Actor-partner interdependence models were applied to the resulting four independent evaluations. Results: Results differed substantially between patients and caregivers. DC was significantly related to patients' but not to caregivers' depressive symptoms, when adjustments were made for individual coping. Perceived partner DC showed a negative association with depressive symptoms in patients, whereas own DC was adversely related for actor as well as for partner effects across individuals. Conclusion: The adverse association between the own DC of the caregiver and the patient on depressive symptoms of the patient might be due to inappropriate efforts or to the loss of autonomy as a care-receiver. DC is important in both patients and caregivers, as shown by the negative association between perceived partner DC and depressive symptoms in the patients, which might inform interventions that target the couple as a whole.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{DeekenHaeuslerNordheimetal.2017,
  author    = {Deeken, Friederike and H{\"a}usler, Andreas and Nordheim, Johanna and Rapp, Michael Armin and Knoll, Nina and Rieckmann, Nina},
  title     = {Psychometric properties of the Perceived Stress Scale in a sample of German dementia patients and their caregivers},
  series = {International psychogeriatrics},
  volume    = {30},
  journal   = {International psychogeriatrics},
  number    = {1},
  publisher = {Cambridge Univ. Press},
  address   = {New York},
  issn      = {1041-6102},
  doi       = {10.1017/S1041610217001387},
  pages     = {39 -- 47},
  year      = {2017},
  abstract  = {Background: The aim of the present study was to investigate the psychometric characteristics of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) in a sample of dementia patients and their spousal caregivers. Methods: We investigated the reliability and validity of the 14-item PSS in a sample of 80 couples, each including one spouse who had been diagnosed with mild to moderate dementia (mean age 75.55, SD = 5.85, 38.7\% female) and one spousal caregiver (mean age 73.06, SD = 6.75, 61.3\% female). We also examined the factor structure and sensitivity of the scale with regard to gender differences. Results: Exploratory factor analysis of the PSS revealed a two-factor solution for the scale; the first factor reflected general stress while the second factor consisted of items reflecting the perceived ability to cope with stressors. A confirmatory factor analysis verified that the data were a better fit for the two-factor model than a one-factor model. The two factors of the PSS showed good reliability for patients as well as for caregivers ranging between alpha = 0.73 and alpha = 0.82. Perceived stress was significantly positively correlated with depressive symptomatology in both caregivers and patients. Mean PSS scores did not significantly differ between male and female patients nor did they differ between male and female caregivers. Conclusion: The present data indicate that the PSS provides a reliable and valid measure of perceived stress in dementia patients and their caregivers.},
  language  = {en}
}