Emotion regulation in people living with dementia and their spouses: the role of neuropsychiatric symptoms.

Objectives: People with dementia (PwD) and their care partners (CP) may have difficulties in emotion regulation, and individual differences in emotion regulation may be related to PwD's neuropsychiatric symptoms. This study explores whether there is self-awareness of PwD's difficulties in emotion regulation and whether CP's emotion regulation relates to the PwD's neuropsychiatric symptoms, potentially revealing bias or interpersonal effects.

Method: We used data from the Wish Outcome Obstacle Plan Study with a sample of 45 PwD and their spousal CP ( = 90 individuals).

Positive affect expression during a play interaction and psychological health among older adults living with cognitive impairment and their adult children.

Objectives: We examined the extent to which positive affect expression in play interactions between adult children and their parents living with cognitive impairment was associated with lower depressive symptoms and mental health difficulties for both dyad members. Gender differences in positive affect expression were also examined.

Method: Dyads ( = 126) self-reported their depressive symptoms and mental health difficulties.

Personal Health Planning in Adult-Child Former Caregivers of Parents Living With Dementia.

Purpose: To examine how former caregivers for parents living with dementia engage in personal health planning.

Design: An inductive, qualitative study.

Setting: Virtual, audio-recorded, semi-structured interviews.

Former dementia caregivers' high and low point narratives: what is remembered, and how is it shared?

Objectives: To characterize core themes conveyed by caregivers when sharing narratives of high and low caregiving points and to describe how caregivers structured these narratives.

Methods: Using consensual qualitative research and thematic analysis, high and low point narratives from 32 former caregivers of persons living with dementia were examined.

Results: High point narrative themes involved strengthening relationships with care partners, fulfillment derived from care, lighthearted moments, and fostering the care partners' joy and dignity.

"Been there, done that:" A grounded theory of future caregiver preparedness in former caregivers of parents living with dementia.

Background: Family caregivers offer essential support to persons living with dementia (PLWD). Providing care for more than one family member or close other across adulthood is becoming increasingly common, yet little is known about the ways that caregiving experiences shape caregiver preparedness. The current study presents a grounded theory of future caregiver preparedness in former caregivers of PLWD.

Social participation and marital satisfaction in mid to late life marriage.

Objectives: Research shows that social participation is beneficial for overall health and well-being. Yet, no research to our knowledge has examined whether social participation is associated with greater marital satisfaction in middle-aged and older couples. We hypothesized that middle-aged and older adults would have greater marital satisfaction when their spouse engaged in social groups because there would be greater opportunity for self-expansion and for social support from ties outside the marriage.

Family Communication in Long-Term Care During a Pandemic: Lessons for Enhancing Emotional Experiences.

Objective: Family visits with residents at long-term care (LTC) facilities have been restricted during the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective was to examine what communication methods, other than in-person visits, during the pandemic were associated with greater positive and lower negative emotional experiences for LTC residents and their family members and friends.

Design: Cross-sectional.