Erminio Gius

Changes over time in the quality of life, prolonged grief and family strain of family caregivers of patients in vegetative state: A pilot study

This study explored changes over time and in the internal standards of the quality of life, prolonged grief and family strain of informal caregivers of patients in vegetative state. Data obtained from 52 caregivers showed high levels of prolonged grief and family strain, and low quality of life. A decrease of caregivers’ quality of life and an increase of family strain were found by adopting a response shift procedure. Only prolonged grief did not change during time. Clinical intervention with the caregivers of vegetative state patients should be differentiated on the basis of the duration of the caring experience.

How the burden of caring for a patient in a vegetative state changes in relation to different coping strategies.

Abstract Objective: To differentiate the burden of caregivers of patients in a vegetative state (VS) on the basis of different coping strategies and prolonged grief. Methods: An observational multi-centre study was conducted with 61 caregivers of VS patients hospitalized in specialized units in Italy. The Anxiety and Depression Short Scale, the Prolonged Grief 12 and Family Strain Questionnaire were used to measure caregivers’ burden and the Coping Orientations to Problem Experiences to identify the coping strategies used by caregivers. A hierarchical cluster analysis was carried out to group the data and a comparison between clusters was conducted. Results: Caregivers were grouped in two clusters defined by the major proximity among the cases of the same group and the major distance from the cases of the other group. The first group was characterized by lower levels of anxiety, depression, family strain and prolonged grief. This group mainly used coping strategies referring to three factors: Social Support, Positive Attitude and Problem Oriented. The second group showed higher levels of anxiety, depression, family strain and prolonged grief and used the Avoidance strategies more than the first group. Conclusions: The burden of providing care to a VS patient is mediated by a range of factors including the different coping strategies adopted by caregivers. Support for these caregivers should take this consideration into account and should be subsequently personalized.

Differenza di genere e morale

ResumenUn analisis del problema del dualismo de genero y el modo masculino o femenino de abordar la moralidad conduce, en la Psicologia Social, a un examen cuidadoso del juicio moral de la mujer. Dos son las referencias principales en tal campo: los importantes estudios de Kohlberg y Piaget y la investigacion de Carol Gilligan. Gilligan propone la existencia de dos orientaciones morales: la primera, que apela a la justicia y derechos, seria mas apropiada para describir la perspectiva moral del hombre, y la segunda, que apela al afecto y cuidado, seria mas adecuada para interpretar la vision femenina de la moral.Tras diez anos de investigacion, la perspectiva de Gilligan ha abierto nuevas perspectivas en Psicologia Social y generando un importante volumen de investigaciones con resultados contradictorios. La investigacion empirica comentada en este articulo lleva a la reconsidereacion de la conexion entre la moral y genero, considerando ambos conceptos como no necesariamente relacionados.