Examinando por Autor "Huertas-Domingo, Cristina"

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Longitudinal effects of ambivalent and guilt feelings on dementia family caregivers' depressive symptoms
(Wiley, 2024-03-14) Losada-Baltar, Andrés; Mausbach, Brent T.; Romero-Moreno, Rosa; Jiménez-Gonzalo, Lucía; Huertas-Domingo, Cristina; Fernandes-Pires, José A.; Barrera-Caballero, Samara; Gallego-Alberto, Laura; Martín-María, Natalia; Olazarán, Javier; Márquez-González, María
Background The world prevalence of people with dementia is increasing. Most of the care received by people with dementia is provided by family caregivers, and this prolonged activity has a significant impact on caregivers' levels of depression. Stressors and frequency of leisure are known predictors of caregivers' depressive levels. The longitudinal impact of caregivers' ambivalent and guilt feelings is unknown. Methods Participants were 177 family caregivers of relatives with dementia who were assessed three times during a 2-year period. In addition to demographic variables, psychological symptoms of the dementias, and frequency of leisure activities, caregivers' ambivalent feelings, guilt, and depressive symptoms were measured. The longitudinal association of changes in these variables with changes in caregivers' depressive symptoms over time was assessed using mixed linear models. Results Changes over time in the assessed variables predicted 48.05% of variance of changes over time in depressive symptoms. Even when variables strongly associated with increased depressive symptoms were controlled (lower caregivers' age and educational level, higher reaction to BPSD, and lower leisure activities), increases in ambivalence and guilt contributed to an increase of 9.22% of the variance of changes depressive symptoms over a 2-year period. The effects of ambivalent feelings on depression are indirect, mediated by guilt feelings. Cessation of caregiving do not seem to alter these findings. Conclusions Caregivers' ambivalent and guilt feelings are significant predictors of caregivers' mental health. Caregivers may significantly benefit from early detection of ambivalent and guilt feelings and preventive strategies targeting triggers associated with ambivalent and guilt symptoms
Longitudinal effects of cognitive fusion in depressive and anxious symptoms of family caregivers of people with dementia
(Elsevier, 2024-07) Barrera-Caballero, Samara; Romero-Moreno, Rosa; Márquez-González, María; Jiménez-Gonzalo, Lucía; Huertas-Domingo, Cristina; Olazarán, Javier; Losada-Baltar, Andrés
Family dementia caregiving has been commonly associated with psychological distress for caregivers. Cognitive fusion, that is, the tendency to become too entangled in thoughts, beliefs, or judgments (in the absence of objectivity) that may often lead to rigid thinking and impact psychological distress, is a transdiagnostic and central process of psychological inflexibility. Cross-sectional studies have shown that family caregivers of people with dementia who could present high levels of stress may be vulnerable to experiencing psychological symptoms such as depression and anxiety (even comorbidity) if they present this rigid way of thinking without seeing the objectivity of their thoughts, which could be related to aspects of the family member's dementia or helplessness in being a caregiver, for example. Specifically, studies in the caregiving field, as well as in other populations, suggest that cognitive fusion could play a mediating role in the relationship between stress and psychological symptoms. However, the predictive role of caregivers' cognitive fusion on psychological distress has not been analyzed in longitudinal studies. The objective of this study was to analyze the longitudinal effect of cognitive fusion in depressive and anxious symptoms after controlling for other relevant variables in a sample of Spanish family caregivers. Face to face assessments were conducted with a total of 176 Spanish family dementia caregivers. The study involved three assessments in a two-year period (baseline, 12 and 24 months). Linear mixed model analysis was used to analyze the associations between time-varying values of frequency and reaction to care-recipient behavioral problems, cognitive fusion, and caregivers' depressive and anxiety symptoms. Increases in cognitive fusion significantly predicted depressive and anxious symptoms (p < 0.01). In addition, reaction to care-recipients’ behavioral problems and being a female caregiver predicted increases in anxiety symptoms over time (p < 0.05). These results suggested that cognitive fusion may constitute a core dysfunctional mechanism involved in depressive and anxious symptoms. Psychological strategies aimed at reducing cognitive fusion and stress levels may be especially helpful for reducing caregivers' distress.
Moderating Effect of Family Function Between Dysfunctional Thoughts and Emotional Distress in Dementia Caregivers: Kinship Differences
(Wiley, 2025-03-15) Huertas-Domingo, Cristina; Losada-Baltar, Andrés; Pillemer, Karl; Czaja, Sara J.; Jiménez-Gonzalo, Lucía; Fernándes-Pires, José Adrián; Márquez-González, María
Caring for a family member with dementia impacts caregivers' mental health. Daughters who provide care seem to be particularly affected due to their multiple roles. The study analyzed the role of dysfunctional thoughts and family function for understanding caregivers' depressive and anxiety symptoms, focusing on the potential moderating effect of family function in the relationship between dysfunctional thoughts and distress. In addition, it examined potential differences in the obtained associations considering the kinship relationship. A total of 278 family caregivers of people with dementia were divided into four groups (wives, husbands, daughters, sons). Sociodemographic variables, family obligations, dysfunctional thoughts, frequency and discomfort associated with problematic behaviors, family function, anxious symptomatology, and depressive symptomatology were assessed. Regression analyses revealed that the moderating effect of family function was significant only for daughters. For depressive symptomatology, the model explained 28.6% of the variance for daughters, showing that high levels of dysfunctional thoughts were associated with increased depressive symptoms when family function was low or intermediate (p < 0.001), but not when it was high. Similarly, for anxious symptomatology, the model explained 23.9% of the variance for daughters, with dysfunctional thoughts again associated with higher anxiety symptoms when family function was low or intermediate (p < 0.001), but not significantly when family function was high. These findings suggest that a well-functioning family may buffer the negative impact of rigid caregiving beliefs, particularly for daughters. The results highlight the importance of interventions aimed at improving family dynamics to enhance caregivers' well-being.
Moderating Effect of Family Function Between Dysfunctional Thoughts and Emotional Distress in Dementia Caregivers: Kinship Differences
(Wiley, 2025-03-15) Huertas-Domingo, Cristina; Losada-Baltar, Andrés; Pillemer, Karl; Czaja, Sara J.; Jiménez-Gonzalo, Lucía; Fernándes-Pires, José Adrián; Márquez-González, María
Caring for a family member with dementia impacts caregivers' mental health. Daughters who provide care seem to be particularly affected due to their multiple roles. The study analyzed the role of dysfunctional thoughts and family function for understanding caregivers' depressive and anxiety symptoms, focusing on the potential moderating effect of family function in the relationship between dysfunctional thoughts and distress. In addition, it examined potential differences in the obtained associations considering the kinship relationship. A total of 278 family caregivers of people with dementia were divided into four groups (wives, husbands, daughters, sons). Sociodemographic variables, family obligations, dysfunctional thoughts, frequency and discomfort associated with problematic behaviors, family function, anxious symptomatology, and depressive symptomatology were assessed. Regression analyses revealed that the moderating effect of family function was significant only for daughters. For depressive symptomatology, the model explained 28.6% of the variance for daughters, showing that high levels of dysfunctional thoughts were associated with increased depressive symptoms when family function was low or intermediate (p < 0.001), but not when it was high. Similarly, for anxious symptomatology, the model explained 23.9% of the variance for daughters, with dysfunctional thoughts again associated with higher anxiety symptoms when family function was low or intermediate (p < 0.001), but not significantly when family function was high. These findings suggest that a well-functioning family may buffer the negative impact of rigid caregiving beliefs, particularly for daughters. The results highlight the importance of interventions aimed at improving family dynamics to enhance caregivers' well-being.
Profiles of Dementia Caregivers according to Psychosocial and Resource Variables. Importance of Kinship
(Cambridge University Press, 2024-05-21) Huertas-Domingo, Cristina; Losada-Baltar, Andrés; Gallego-Alberto, Laura; García-Batalloso, Inés; García-García, Laura; Márquez-González, María
The present study aims to analyze the existence of different profiles in family caregivers of people with dementia according to psychosocial and resource variables. In addition, it aims to study whether there is a greater representation of each kinship group in each of the profiles and if there are differences in emotional distress among such profiles considering the kinship with the care-recipient. Participants were 288 family dementia caregivers, divided into four kinship groups (wives, husbands, sons and daughters). Psychosocial (familism, dysfunctional thoughts and experiential avoidance), resource (leisure activities and social support) and outcomes (depressive, anxious and guilt symptomatology) variables were collected. A hierarchical cluster analysis using Ward’s method, an exploratory factor analysis of two fixed factors and contingency tables were performed. Five clusters were obtained: Low psychosocial vulnerability-High resources, Low psychosocial vulnerability-Low resources, Mixed, High psychosocial vulnerability-High resources, and High psychosocial vulnerability-Low resources. Results suggested that clusters associated with lower distress were the Low psychosocial vulnerability-High resources and the High psychosocial vulnerability-High resources. Clusters associated with higher distress were the Low psychosocial vulnerability-Low resources and Mixed. High levels of dysfunctional thoughts, familism and experiential avoidance do not always have a maladaptive function. This could depend on sociocultural and resource variables such as the kinship with the caregiver or perceived social support. The identification of profiles of family caregivers potentially needing protection and vulnerable to psychological distress could help to increase the effectiveness of interventions aimed at this population.