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The Relationship of Self-Restraint and Distress to Coping Among Spouses Caring for Persons With Alzheimer's Disease

Case Western Reserve University

Milton E. Strauss

Case Western Reserve University

Marcia M. Neundorfer

Case Western Reserve University

Kathleen A. Smyth

Case Western Reserve University

Jon C. Stuckey

Case Western Reserve University

This study investigated the relationship between two basic dimensions of social-emotional adjustment: distress and self-restraint, as identified by Weinberger and Schwartz (1990), and the use of four coping strategies by spouse caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's disease. Care givers were most frequently categorized as oversocialized (high distress, high self-restraint) and repressive (low distress, high self-restraint) according to Weinberger and Schwartz's (1990) social-emotional adjustment typology. A higher proportion of males than females were under- socialized (low distress, low self-restraint) and reactive (high distress, low self-restraint), whereas a higher proportion of females than males were oversocialized (high distress, high self-restraint). High distress caregivers were more likely to use the emotion-focused coping strategy of wishfulness, whereas low distress caregivers were more likely to use acceptance and the problem-focused strategy of instrumental coping. Although there were gender differences in distress and the use of specific coping strategies, the relationships between distress and coping strategies used held regardless of gender. Implications for caregiver intervention programs as well as directions for future research are discussed.

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