Interpersonal Predictors of Grief Among Caregivers of Persons With Dementia

Family caregivers of persons with dementia experience grief as the care recipients' dementia advances. Here, we explore how various interpersonal factors hypothesized to relate to prolonged grief disorder (PGD) (e.g., perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness) and our micro-social theory of grief (e.g., relational deprivation, self-esteem-related social support) relate to caregiver dementia-related grief.

Baseline caregiver data (N = 69) from an National Institute on Aging funded randomized pilot trial evaluating a digital reminiscence platform for dementia family caregiver-care‑recipient dyads were analyzed. Apparent (unadjusted), independent, and most significant associations between 12 interpersonal constructs and caregiver dementia-related grief were assessed using ordinary, multiple, and stepwise linear regression, respectively.

Dementia‑specific grief was measured using a 10‑item adaptation of the Prolonged Grief-12. Interpersonal constructs were measured using the Interpersonal Support Evaluation List, the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire, and the Relational Deprivation Scale.

In ordinary regression models, 10 interpersonal constructs were apparently associated with caregiver grief. In a multiple regression model, only perceived burdensomeness (β = 0.30; t = 2.25, df = 56, p = 0.029) and relational deprivation (β = 0.21; t = 2.05, df = 56, p = 0.045) were independently associated with caregiver grief. In a stepwise regression model, self-esteem-related social support (β = -0.41; t = -3.53, df = 65, p = 0.001) was associated with lesser, and perceived burdensomeness (β = 0.30; t = 2.50, df = 65, p = 0.015) and relational deprivation (β = 0.25; t = 2.84, df = 65, p = 0.006) were associated with greater caregiver dementia-related grief.

Perceived burdensomeness, a risk for suicidal ideation, and relational deprivation and self-esteem-related social support, theoretically aligned with our micro-social theory of grief, were most significantly predictive of caregiver dementia-related grief. Interventions addressing grief among dementia caregivers should target these influential interpersonal vulnerabilities.