Colclough, Carmen, Miles, Eleanor, Perach, Rotem et al. (11 more authors) (2023) Emotion-Focused Dyadic Coping Styles used by Family Carers of People with Dementia during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Dementia: The International Journal of Social Research and Practice. 1205–1226. ISSN 1741-2684
Abstract
Emotional wellbeing of family carers and people with dementia is associated with not only how each individual copes with stress and conflict, but also by how they cope together. Finding ways to positively cope together was particularly important during COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, when other avenues of emotional support were less available. We explored how carers experienced and used emotion-focused dyadic coping styles during the COVID-19 pandemic. In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted during the pandemic with 42 family carers, supplemented by quality of life scores collected both pre- and during the pandemic and household status. Abductive thematic analysis identified five styles of emotion-focused dyadic coping: common, supportive, hostile, disengaged avoidance and protective. The COVID-19 pandemic left many dyads unsupported. While many carers adapted, reporting increases in quality of life and enjoying the extra time with the person with dementia, others experienced dyadic conflict and reductions in quality of life. This variation was associated with dyadic coping styles, including challenges in using ‘positive’ styles and the protective use of ‘negative’ disengaged avoidance in the right situations. Dyadic coping styles also differed as a function of whether the dyad lived together. As many people with dementia are supported by an informal carer, considering how they cope together could help us to better support them. We make suggestions for dyadic interventions tailored by co-residency status that could help dyads identify and communicate coping needs, reconnect following avoidance coping, and replenish their coping resources through social support.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | This is an author-produced version of the published paper. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher’s self-archiving policy. Further copying may not be permitted; contact the publisher for details |
Keywords: | DEMENTIA,CARER,dyadic coping,abductive analysis,qualitative,COVID-19 |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of York |
Academic Units: | The University of York > Research Groups (York) > Social Policy Research Unit (York) The University of York > Faculty of Social Sciences (York) > Social Policy and Social Work (York) The University of York > Faculty of Social Sciences (York) |
Funding Information: | Funder Grant number ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL RESEARCH COUNCIL (ESRC) ES/S010351/1 |
Depositing User: | Pure (York) |
Date Deposited: | 28 Apr 2023 13:10 |
Last Modified: | 23 Oct 2024 00:18 |
Published Version: | https://doi.org/10.1177/14713012231173812 |
Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1177/14713012231173812 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:198744 |
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