Date of Award

8-1-2024

Language

English

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

College/School/Department

Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology

Dissertation/Thesis Chair

Lisa McAndrew

Committee Members

Shannon Nugent, Alison Phillips

Keywords

Chronic Multi-Symptom Illness, Family Caregivers, Illness Perception Incongruence, Illness Perceptions, Informal Caregivers, Psychological Distress

Subject Categories

Counseling Psychology

Abstract

Following the common sense model of self regulation (CSM), how individuals think about an illness (i.e., illness perceptions) influences one’s level of psychological distress (e.g., burden, depression). This is thought to be especially true for illnesses which lack any clear medical etiology, termed chronic multi-symptom illness (CMI). While the impact of illness perceptions are well established predictors of distress among those diagnosed CMI, no known study has considered if illness perceptions similarly impact informal caregivers caring for individuals with CMI. This study therefore sought to examine if illness perceptions held by caregivers caring for individuals with CMI predicted caregiver psychological distress. This study also sought to examine if caregivers’ perceived incongruence (i.e., caregivers perceiving themselves as holding differing illness perceptions than the recipients of their care) predicted caregiver psychological distress. It was expected that holding greater threat-related illness perceptions of CMI and experiencing greater perceived incongruence would result in greater caregiver burden and depression. Conversely, it was expected that holding greater protective illness perceptions of CMI would predict less caregiver burden and depression. Participants (N=201) were individuals who self-identified as caregivers caring for individuals with CMI. Results supported the hypothesis that threat-related illness perceptions among caregivers would predict greater caregiver burden and depression. Results however did not support the hypotheses that protective illness perceptions would predict lower burden and depression, nor that greater perceived incongruence would predict greater burden and depression. The discussion explores implication for both practice and research surrounding the needs of caregivers caring for individuals with CMI.

Download

Share

COinS