Alzheimer Europe Conference
POS2.06 VAN HOUT Elien - Does getting entangled with thoughts influence the relationship between perceived burden and carer anxiety
Main Author: Elien Van Hout, University of East Anglia - Co-Authors: Milena Contreras & Eneida Mioshi & Naoko Kishita
Introduction:
Cognitive fusion refers to our tendency to become entangled with thoughts and inability to step back from such restricting beliefs. Cognitive fusion is known to moderate the relationship between caregiving-related stressors and depression. However, the moderating role of cognitive fusion on the relationship between stressors and carer anxiety is not fully explored. To inform future carer interventions, this study aimed to explore whether cognitive fusion moderates the relationship between perceived burden and anxiety in family carers of people with dementia.
Method:
This study used a cross-sectional design with a sample of seventy-nine family carers, with a mean age of 63.59 (SD=10.53). Most of the carers were female (72%) spouses (49%) taking care of a person with Alzheimer’s Disease (42%). The PROCESS computation macro was used to analyse the moderating effect of cognitive fusion (CFQ-7) on the relationship between care burden (ZBI-12) and carer anxiety (GAD-7).
Result:
The overall model was statistically significant (R2=.58, F(3,74)=34.64, p<.001), with both cognitive fusion (b=.25) and care burden (b=.15) positively associated with carer anxiety. The findings also demonstrated a significant interaction term between cognitive fusion and care burden (b=.01, SE=.00, p<.05). When the standardised slope for predicting anxiety from care burden was compared across three different levels of cognitive fusion, a statistically significant slope was found when cognitive fusion was one SD above the mean (b=.28) and at the mean (b=.15), but not at one SD below the mean (b=.01).
Conclusion:
Cognitive fusion moderates the relationship between care burden and carer anxiety. Moreover, as the level of cognitive fusion increases, it seems that the relationship between care burden and carer anxiety becomes more robust. This indicates that interventions that undermine cognitive fusion such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy may be beneficial for preventing increased anxiety among those experiencing high levels of care burden.
POS2.06 VAN HOUT Elien - Does getting entangled with thoughts influence the relationship between perceived burden and carer anxiety
Main Author: Elien Van Hout, University of East Anglia - Co-Authors: Milena Contreras & Eneida Mioshi & Naoko Kishita
Introduction:
Cognitive fusion refers to our tendency to become entangled with thoughts and inability to step back from such restricting beliefs. Cognitive fusion is known to moderate the relationship between caregiving-related stressors and depression. However, the moderating role of cognitive fusion on the relationship between stressors and carer anxiety is not fully explored. To inform future carer interventions, this study aimed to explore whether cognitive fusion moderates the relationship between perceived burden and anxiety in family carers of people with dementia.
Method:
This study used a cross-sectional design with a sample of seventy-nine family carers, with a mean age of 63.59 (SD=10.53). Most of the carers were female (72%) spouses (49%) taking care of a person with Alzheimer’s Disease (42%). The PROCESS computation macro was used to analyse the moderating effect of cognitive fusion (CFQ-7) on the relationship between care burden (ZBI-12) and carer anxiety (GAD-7).
Result:
The overall model was statistically significant (R2=.58, F(3,74)=34.64, p<.001), with both cognitive fusion (b=.25) and care burden (b=.15) positively associated with carer anxiety. The findings also demonstrated a significant interaction term between cognitive fusion and care burden (b=.01, SE=.00, p<.05). When the standardised slope for predicting anxiety from care burden was compared across three different levels of cognitive fusion, a statistically significant slope was found when cognitive fusion was one SD above the mean (b=.28) and at the mean (b=.15), but not at one SD below the mean (b=.01).
Conclusion:
Cognitive fusion moderates the relationship between care burden and carer anxiety. Moreover, as the level of cognitive fusion increases, it seems that the relationship between care burden and carer anxiety becomes more robust. This indicates that interventions that undermine cognitive fusion such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy may be beneficial for preventing increased anxiety among those experiencing high levels of care burden.