Background: "Benefit finding" is a strengths-based strategy for coping with medical illness that may be particularly useful for caregivers of people with heart failure given the highly fluctuating disease course.
Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate benefit finding's association with the caregiver-care recipient relationship, depression, and burden at baseline and longitudinally.
Methods: This is a longitudinal observational study of caregivers' benefit finding, relationship quality, depression, and burden. Correlation and multiple regression analyses identify baseline associations and predictors of 12-month change in benefit finding.
Results: At baseline (n = 100; median, 60 years [interquartile range, 46-69]; 81% female, 70% partner/spouse), increased benefit finding correlated with higher relationship quality (r = 0.53; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.38-0.67), lower depression (r = -0.33; 95% CI, -0.49 to -0.14), and lower burden (r = -0.31; 95% CI, -0.47 to -0.11). Twelve-month change in benefit finding was predicted by change in relationship quality (ß = 7.12; 95% CI, 0.62-13.61) but not depression or burden.
Conclusions: Relationship quality and benefit finding changed together over time. Interventions strengthening the caregiver-care recipient bond may be especially impactful for heart failure caregivers.
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