The PDC30 Chatbot-Development of a Psychoeducational Resource on Dementia Caregiving Among Family Caregivers: Mixed Methods Acceptability Study.

Background: Providing ongoing support to the increasing number of caregivers as their needs change in the long-term course of dementia is a severe challenge to any health care system. Conversational artificial intelligence (AI) operating 24/7 may help to tackle this problem.

Objective: This study describes the development of a generative AI chatbot-the PDC30 Chatbot-and evaluates its acceptability in a mixed methods study.

Positive dementia caregiving in 30 days (PDC30): Study protocol of a randomized controlled trial of a self-guided automated online training program.

The Benefit-Finding Intervention, a face-to-face psychoeducation program with a focus on the positive meanings of caregiving, has been found to reduce depressive symptoms and burden in dementia caregivers. The program was revamped into a computer-delivered web-based program to enable 24/7 access without location restriction. This study evaluates the efficacy of this new online program called Positive Dementia Caregiving in 30 Days (PDC30).

Advancing theory-driven research in the psychological science of adult development and aging.

Theory is critical for a developmental science that explains age-related change and stability in psychological phenomena-and their variation across generational and sociocultural contexts. This special issue presents four contributions that advance theoretical approaches to the psychological science of adult development and aging. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Resident Aggression and Staff Burnout in Nursing Homes in Hong Kong.

This study examined the effects of exposure to resident aggression, self-efficacy, neuroticism, and attitudes toward dementia on burnout among direct care workers (DCWs) in nursing homes. A convenience sample of 800 DCWs from 70 randomly selected nursing homes in Hong Kong were recruited and individually interviewed. DCWs reported past-month experiences of resident aggression, levels of burnout, self-efficacy, neuroticism, attitudes toward dementia, and other personal and facility characteristics.

Multiphase optimization of a multicomponent intervention for informal dementia caregivers: a study protocol.

Background: Family caregiver interventions are essential to support dementia caregiving. However, such interventions are typically complex and consist of multiple components. Existing evidence rarely delineates the effectiveness and interactions between individual components.

Staff Turnover Intention at Long-Term Care Facilities: Implications of Resident Aggression, Burnout, and Fatigue.

Objectives: Staff shortages and the high turnover rate of nursing assistants pose great challenges to long-term care. This study examined the effects of aggression from residents of long-term care facilities, burnout, and fatigue on staff turnover intention. The findings will help managers to devise effective measures to retain their staff.

The effects of a salutogenic strength-based intervention on sense of coherence and health outcomes of dementia family carers: A randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: Dementia caregiving is associated with notable impacts on the health of family carers. Although sense of coherence (SOC), as a core dimension of inner strength, has been found to have health-protecting effects in stressful encounters, few studies have designed a strength-based intervention to optimise SOC and thereby the health of carers.

Objectives: To identify the effects of a strength-based intervention on SOC, coping, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), perceived burden and depression among Chinese family carers of people with dementia and to examine whether the health effects, if any, are mediated through an enhanced SOC and effective coping.

Positive aspects of caregiving attenuate the relationship between behavioral bother and anxiety and depressive symptoms in dementia family caregivers.

Aim: To examine the protective role of positive aspects of caregiving (PAC) in terms of whether it dampens the relationship between behavioral bother and anxiety/depressive symptoms.

Methods: The baseline data of the Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer's Caregiver Health I trial were used. US dementia family caregivers (N = 1222) responded to standard self-report measures of PAC, behavioral bother, depression, anxiety, challenging behaviors, and functional impairment.

Typology of family caregivers of older persons: A latent profile analysis using elder mistreatment risk and protective factors.

This study sought to identify subpopulations of caregivers of older persons based on their profiles of individual characteristics and caregiving contexts and aimed at examining the associations between caregiver profiles and elder mistreatment. A convenient sample of 600 adult caregivers of community-dwelling older people in Hong Kong participated. Results of latent profile analysis support a typology of 3 distinctive caregiver profiles: (a) non-vulnerable caregivers; (b) isolated, vulnerable caregivers; and (c) traumatized, vulnerable caregivers.

The Positive Aspects of Caregiving Scale can be shortened to six items: application of item response theory.

Objective: For nearly two decades, with one exception, researchers have used the Positive Aspects of Caregiving Scale (PACS) without a close examination of how the items behave. This study examined PACS' measurement model and item response characteristics, including differential item functioning (DIF) by race.

Methods: Item response theory was used to analyze the baseline data of the Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer's Caregiver Health (REACH) I trial ( = 1229).

Common mental disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong: Age-related differences and implications for dementia risk.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed a profound negative impact on the mental health and wellbeing of societies and individuals worldwide. Older adults may be more vulnerable to the mental health effects of the pandemic, either directly from the infection itself or indirectly through the preventive measures. However, the existing literature on mental health in the older age groups has not been consistent so far.

Two sides of the same coin? Revisiting the relationship between burden and positive aspects of caregiving in dementia.

Objectives: Studies have shown that items on the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) purported to measure self-criticism do not correlate well with the other items. Examination of item content suggests they may be measuring mixed sentiments-both positive and negative-about caregiving. This study examined whether self-criticism is related to positive aspects of caregiving (PAC) in a way that is different from caregiver strain, and if so, which types of PAC.

Do caregiver interventions improve outcomes in relatives with dementia and mild cognitive impairment? A comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis.

Some reviews suggest benefits of nonpharmacological interventions for informal caregivers of people with dementia and mild cognitive impairment. These benefits may transfer to the care-recipients (CRs) through increased caregiving capability, reduced burden and depression among caregivers, and decreased negative mood contagion. However, large-scale review on these effects on the CRs is lacking.

Benefit-finding buffers the effects of home confinement and centralized quarantine (HCCQ) on late midlife and older adults' mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Older adults' well-being may suffer due to prolonged social isolation leading to loneliness and increased stress during the COVID-19 pandemic. The current study aimed to address the role of benefit-finding, defined as the capacity to derive meaning and positive aspects from stressful situations, in late midlife and older adults' adaptation to the effects of home confinement and centralized quarantine (HCCQ). 421 participants aged 50 or above in mainland of China participated in an online survey to study the effects of HCCQ on loneliness, stress, anxiety, depression and life satisfaction, as well as the moderating role of benefit-finding.

An exercise cum cognitive-behavioral intervention for older adults with chronic pain: A cluster-randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To examine the medium-term effects of a group intervention combining exercise and cognitive-behavioral strategies (EC) on older adults with chronic pain.

Method: One hundred and fifty-two Hong Kong Chinese older adults with chronic pain affecting bones, muscles, and joints were randomized by clinic/social center to receive 10 weekly sessions of EC or pain education (control). The primary (pain intensity) and secondary outcomes (pain disability, pain self-efficacy, pain catastrophizing, pain coping, depressive symptoms, health-related quality of life, and hip and knee strength) were collected at baseline (T1), postintervention (T2), and 3- (T3) and 6-month follow-ups (T4).

Self-efficacy in controlling upsetting thoughts, but not positive gains, mediates the effects of benefit-finding group intervention for Alzheimer family caregivers.

This study aimed to examine the therapeutic mechanism of the benefit-finding therapeutic (BFT) intervention that used cognitive reappraisal and alternative thinking to construct positive aspects of caregiving (PAC), in a cluster-randomized controlled trial for Alzheimer caregivers. Forty two caregivers received BFT, whereas 87 received psychoeducation as control. Depressive symptoms and global burden were outcomes measured at baseline, postintervention, and 4- and 10-month follow-up.

Mindfulness Awareness Is Associated With a Lower Risk of Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms in Older Adults With Neurocognitive Disorders.

Apart from depressive disorders, there are great interests in adopting mindfulness based interventions (MBIs) for other mental health conditions. Depression and anxiety are common in people with neurocognitive disorders (NCD). The potential of MBIs as an adjuvant treatment in this cognitively at-risk group should be further explored.

Are Care-Recipient Outcomes Attributable to Improved Caregiver Well-Being? A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial of Benefit-Finding Intervention.

Objectives: The benefit-finding therapeutic (BFT) intervention, training cognitive reappraisal, and alternative thinking to construct positive aspects of caregiving have been found to reduce caregiver depression. This study examines BFT effects on care-recipient outcomes via reduced caregiver depression.

Design: Cluster-randomized double-blind controlled trial.

Perceived Life Expectancy Predicts Time Investment in Productive Aging Activities: An Ecological Momentary Assessment Study.

Objectives: Despite known benefits of productive aging, it is unclear what explains time allocation in productive activities. We investigated whether productive engagement in older people can be explained by their age, health, socioeconomic status, and perceived life expectancy in Hong Kong.

Methods: We interviewed 390 community-dwelling older persons for their health and perceived life expectancy, followed by a 7-day ecological momentary assessment to record their activities.

Developing and testing of an integrative theoretical model to predict positive aspects of caregiving among family caregivers of persons with dementia: A study protocol.

Aims: The aim is to develop and test an integrative model based on the stress and coping paradigm and the existential paradigm, to explain positive aspects of caregiving among family caregivers of persons with dementia.

Design: A mixed method research, comprises a longitudinal exploratory study and a descriptive qualitative study.

Methods: A total of 370 family caregivers will be recruited from community elderly centres.

Typology of pain coping and associations with physical health, mental health, and pain profiles in Hong Kong Chinese older adults.

Objectives: To identify typology of pain coping in older adults and to see whether the coping types or patterns were associated with pain, physical health, and mental health outcomes.

Methods: Six hundred and fifty six Chinese older adults were recruited on a convenience basis from social centers in Hong Kong. A 14-item Brief Pain Coping Scale (BPCS) was constructed on the basis of the Chronic Pain Coping Inventory.