EFFECT OF THE ENHANCING POSITIVE ASPECTS PROGRAM ON CAREGIVING BURDEN AMONG CAREGIVERS OF PERSONS WITH DEMENTIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14456/lsej.2025.20Keywords:
dementia, caregiver burden, positive aspect, informal caregiverAbstract
Dementia impairs cognition, memory, and daily functioning, requiring continuous caregiving that often leads to caregiver burden. This quasi-experimental study aimed to examine the effect of a positive aspect enhancement program on caregiver burden among caregivers of persons with dementia. The sample was divided into an experimental group of 15 and a control group of 15, totaling 30 caregivers, aged 20–60 years, of both sexes, who were dementia caregivers providing care to patients during their hospital treatment. The research instruments included: (1) a personal information questionnaire for caregivers of persons with dementia, (2) the Zarit Burden Interview (Zarit & Zarit, 1990), (3) the Positive Aspects of Caregiving Interview (Tarlow et al., 2004), and (4) the Enhancing Positive Aspects Program, which consisted of six sessions, each lasting 60 minutes, conducted twice a week. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the independent samples t-test, and one and two-way repeated measures ANOVA. The study results indicated that caregivers who participated in the Enhancing Positive Aspects Program demonstrated significantly lower caregiver burden scores immediately after the intervention and at four-week follow-up compared to their
pre-intervention scores (p < .05). Furthermore, the experimental group reported significantly lower caregiver burden scores than the control group receiving standard care, both
immediately after the intervention and at four-week follow-up (p < .05). The findings suggest that the Enhancing Positive Aspects Program effectively reduced caregiver burden among dementia caregivers, and its implementation is recommended as a supportive intervention in this population.
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