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.
Design: A double-blind randomised controlled trial comparing a strengths-based intervention with a general education control.
Intervention: A 14-session strengths-based intervention which combined the use of narrative and empowerment strategies to support the carers of people with dementia to optimise the use of their generalised resistance resources in coping with the caregiving situation.
Setting: Older people community centres in Hong Kong.
Results: A total of 350 family carers participated in the study (mean age: 65.0 (SD = 12.3); female: 84.6%). Participants who received the strength-based intervention reported significantly greater improvements in their SOC, mental health, perceived burden and depression, than those in the education group, over a 22-week evaluation period. Path analysis models revealed that an SOC wholly mediated the relationship between the strength-based intervention and mental HRQoL (covering energy/vitality and psychosocial functioning) and partially mediated the relationship between the strength-based intervention and depression. We did not identify any harm from the intervention.
Conclusion: A strength-based intervention is effective in improving the perceived burden and mental health of family caregivers of persons with dementia, and an SOC plays an important role in accounting for the mental health benefits.
Trial Registration: The trial was registered in the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (Main ID: ChiCTR-IIC-17011097).
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afad160 | DOI Listing |
J Oral Rehabil
January 2025
Research Institute for Korean Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Republic of Korea.
Background: Early identification of penetration/aspiration (P/A) risk in older adults with sarcopenia is crucial to prevent complications and maintain quality of life.
Purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic utility of orofacial muscle strength measurements for predicting the risk of P/A in older adults with sarcopenia.
Methods: In this observational and prospective study, we collated consecutive data from community-dwelling older adults diagnosed with sarcopenia at a musculoskeletal disorder clinic.
BMJ Open
December 2024
North Region and Department of Psychosis, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore.
Introduction: There are insufficient scalable, evidence-based treatments to meet increasing mental health needs of young people. Offering interim, brief interventions for young persons with psychological distress can improve access to care and mitigate adverse effects of long waiting times. This study tests the efficacy of solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT), a strength-based, goal-directed intervention, in adolescents and young adults at a community-based youth mental health service in Singapore.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNutrients
January 2025
Faculty of Health, Santo Tomas University, Talca 3460000, Chile.
Cardiovascular diseases increasingly impact youth, with early development of risk factors such as obesity, hypertension, and inadequate nutrient intake. Proper nutrient intake and physical fitness are vital for reducing these risks, especially in pediatric populations. This study explores the connection between physical fitness, metabolic risk, and nutrient status among 1656 Chilean schoolchildren from diverse socio-economic backgrounds.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFam Community Health
January 2025
Author Affiliations: Department of Social Work, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China (Mr Liu and Dr Chen).
Background And Objectives: Financial resilience describes an actionable financial capability to cope with emergencies and adversities. However, little is known about whether financial resilience patterns impact holistic health outcomes.
Methods: This study conducted a 3-step latent profile analysis using an urban community sample (n = 3710) from a nationally representative database in China.
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