dc.contributor.author | Woodford, J | |
dc.contributor.author | Farrand, P | |
dc.contributor.author | Watkins, ER | |
dc.contributor.author | LLewellyn, DJ | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2018-01-22T16:06:59Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2017-09-26 | |
dc.description.abstract | OBJECTIVES: Health and social care services are increasingly reliant on informal caregivers to provide long-term support to stroke survivors. However, caregiving is associated with elevated levels of depression and anxiety in the caregiver that may also negatively impact stroke survivor recovery. This qualitative study aims to understand the specific difficulties experienced by caregivers experiencing elevated symptoms of anxiety and depression. METHODS: Nineteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with caregivers experiencing elevated levels of depression and anxiety, with a thematic analysis approach adopted for analysis. RESULTS: Analysis revealed three main themes: Difficulties adapting to the caring role; Uncertainty; and Lack of support. CONCLUSIONS: Caregivers experienced significant difficulties adapting to changes and losses associated with becoming a caregiver, such as giving up roles and goals of importance and value. Such difficulties persisted into the long-term and were coupled with feelings of hopelessness and worry. Difficulties were further exacerbated by social isolation, lack of information and poor long-term health and social care support. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: A greater understanding of difficulties experienced by depressed and anxious caregivers may inform the development of psychological support targeting difficulties unique to the caring role. Improving caregiver mental health may also result in health benefits for stroke survivors themselves. | en_GB |
dc.description.sponsorship | This work was supported by the Dunhill Medical Trust (grant
number: RTF43/1111). JW was the recipient of the Dunhill
Medical Trust Research Training Fellowship. DJL is supported
by the National Institute for Health Research
(NIHR) Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health
Research and Care South West Peninsula. We are grateful
for the support provided by the Stroke Association; Different
Strokes; Carers UK; Headway and Unite Devon. Additionally,
we thank all the participants in the study | en_GB |
dc.identifier.citation | DOI: 10.1080/07317115.2017.1363104 | en_GB |
dc.identifier.doi | 10.1080/07317115.2017.1363104 | |
dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10871/31156 | |
dc.language.iso | en | en_GB |
dc.publisher | Taylor & Francis (Routledge) | en_GB |
dc.relation.url | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29185911 | en_GB |
dc.rights | © 2017 Joanne Woodford, Paul Farrand,
Edward R. Watkins, and David J. LLewellyn.
Published with license by Taylor & Francis.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/),
which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, and is not altered, transformed, or built upon in any way | en_GB |
dc.subject | Anxiety | en_GB |
dc.subject | caregivers | en_GB |
dc.subject | depression | en_GB |
dc.subject | qualitative research | en_GB |
dc.subject | stroke | en_GB |
dc.title | "I don't believe in leading a life of my own, I lead his life": A qualitative investigation of difficulties experienced by informal caregivers of stroke survivors experiencing depressive and anxious symptoms | en_GB |
dc.type | Article | en_GB |
dc.date.available | 2018-01-22T16:06:59Z | |
dc.identifier.issn | 0731-7115 | |
exeter.place-of-publication | United States | en_GB |
dc.description | This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from the publisher via the DOI in this record. | en_GB |
dc.identifier.journal | Clinical Gerontologist | en_GB |
dc.identifier.pmid | 29185911 | |