This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Connell, C. M Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Connell, C. M Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Impact of spouse caregiving on health behaviors and physical and mental health status

Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, School of Public Health; Education and Information Transfer Core, Michigan Alzheimer's Disease Research Center University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan

The impact of caring for a spouse with a progressive dementia on caregiver's health behaviors and health status was examined. Data collected from 44 spouse caregivers indicates that:

• • Providing full-time care interferes with preventive health behaviors (eating nutritiously, exercising) and contributes to high risk behaviors (overeating, alcohol and substance use);
  
• • Health behaviors are frequently used as coping strategies;
  
• • Caregivers rated their own health as poorer than their spouse's health; and
  
• • Disabling (arthritis, cardiac and back problems) and stress-related health problems (migraines, colitis) are a consequence of and interfere with care provision.
  

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?