PROFILES OF FAMILY CAREGIVERS PRIOR TO THE DEATH OF A SPOUSE AND THE RISK FOR DEVELOPING PROLONGED GRIEF

• Published in: Innovation in aging Vol. 2; no. suppl_1; p. 211
• Main Authors: Miller, L M, Utz, R L, Supiano, K P, Lund, D A, Caserta, M S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: US Oxford University Press 11-11-2018
• Subjects: Abstracts
• ISSN: 2399-5300; 2399-5300
• DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igy023.774

The purpose of this study was to characterize distinct risk profiles of family caregivers prior to the death of a spouse/partner in hospice, and determine the extent to which these pre-bereavement profiles helped predict prolonged grief. Using latent class mixture modeling to examine distinct risk profiles among 195 family caregivers, two pre-loss profiles were identified, one of which was comprised of family caregivers (n= 60; 31%) exhibiting significantly higher anxiety and depressive symptoms, lower active coping scores, less preparedness for the caregiving role, less social support, greater impact on caregiver’s health, and more relationship strain between the caregiver and their spouse/partner. Family caregivers who were observed in this higher risk profile were significantly younger, reported lower annual incomes, and were significantly more likely to develop prolonged grief, according to adjusted multivariable models using subsequent bereavement data from 124 participants who remained in the study at 6 to18 months post-loss.