Stansfeld, Jacki Lisa;
(2019)
Sense of competence in family carers of people living with dementia: A positive psychology perspective.
Doctoral thesis (Ph.D), UCL (University College London).
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Abstract
Background Carer sense of competence is related to their wellbeing and may play a role in reducing the risk of institutionalisation of the person with dementia. Little is known about the predictors of family carer sense of competence, particularly positive psychology factors. Aim To better understand the nature of sense of competence in family carers of people living with dementia. Methods Two systematic reviews: (1) of positive psychology measures and (2) exploring factors related to sense of competence, were used to design a national survey of sense of competence in 583 family carers. A meta-analysis examined the impact of psychosocial interventions on sense of competence. Sense of competence was examined in relation to carer mood and person with dementia factors using data from 468 dyads in the Valuing Active Life in Dementia (VALID) study. A qualitative study of family carers further explored the nature of sense of competence. Results In the survey, higher sense of competence significantly predicted better health related quality of life of carers, with this relationship mediated by sense of coherence. In the VALID study, carer mood significantly predicted variance in sense of competence scores, but clinical features of the person with dementia did not. In the qualitative study, carers’ perception of challenges in the caring role and their cognitive appraisal had a strong influence on how competent family carers perceived themselves to be. Conclusions Positive psychology factors such as resilience and gains, and carer mood contribute to carer sense of competence. These findings inform understanding of the impact of positive psychology and psychosocial factors on family carer sense of competence. As such, a revised conceptual model of sense of competence incorporating positive psychology aspects of caring was proposed. Greater knowledge of the factors influencing sense of competence can improve the design of psychosocial interventions for carers.
| Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Qualification: | Ph.D |
| Title: | Sense of competence in family carers of people living with dementia: A positive psychology perspective |
| Event: | University College London |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | Copyright © The Author 2019. Original content in this thesis is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) Licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Any third-party copyright material present remains the property of its respective owner(s) and is licensed under its existing terms. Access may initially be restricted at the author’s request. |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > Division of Psychiatry |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10075364 |
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