Describes telephone network bringing family caregivers of Alzheimer's victims together over telephone in rotating pattern of twosomes. Explains how five caregiving spouses and five adult children were matched and connected over three months. Describes program's 25 telephone-accessed audiotapes that guided networks and provided information on…

Examines concept of caregiver burden relative to the resources available for supporting family members who care for an ill or disabled member. Concludes there must be a national policy on caregiving and a shift in national priorities if families' needs are to be met. (Author/ABL)

Investigated frequency of contact between children and biological parents who were separated. Used data from 1981 national survey to examine effects of living arrangements and other family characteristics on cross-household ties between children and parents. Found frequent contact occurring for children who had recently lived with absent parent…

Current theory suggests that middle-aged adults are becoming burdened with the responsibilities of caring for both parents and children as a result of changing sociodemographic trends, and that this trend may adversely affect caregivers' well-being. Using a national sample (n=2,033) of married persons, it is found that this change has little…

This study of the relationship between mother-child interactions and children's development for 18 children (ages 20-36 months) with severe visual impairments found that mother-responsive behaviors were positively related to child development, whereas mother-initiated behaviors were either negatively related or not related. (Author/JDD)

Several issues are explored regarding child care in a bilingual setting, including dismissing myths regarding the supposed negative effects of bilingualism; understanding what caregivers can do to ensure a positive and responsive environment in which communication thrives; and communicating with the family and understanding its general social…

Evaluated development of integrated family assessment inventory based on Double ABCX and Circumplex models of family functioning and its clinical utility with 121 primary family caregivers from cognitive disorders program. Proposed model predicted significant proportion of variance associated with caregiver stress and strain. Several aspects of…

Vocal interactions of mothers and infants were recorded. Mothers' vocalizations were coded for five categories of pitch. Infant vocalization in relation to pitch variants of maternal speech was characterized by several physical parameters, such as duration and peak frequency of vocalization. (BC)

Examined loss of identity resulting from engulfment in caregiver role among 555 adult children and spouses caring for Alzheimer patient. Loss was more common among spouses, females, and younger caregivers. Limited social contact and lack of social roles were related to greater loss of self. Found loss of self associated with lower…

Examined effectiveness of outpatient group therapy for discharged elderly psychiatric inpatients. Found that therapy was enhanced by participation of caregivers or significant others, in-depth exploration of medical issues and medication, and the creation of a socially active facilitating environment with extensions into the community. (Author/NB)

Interviewed 88 family caregivers concerning experience with medical care of demented relatives. Most caregivers expressed overall satisfaction with services. Greatest dissatisfaction was expressed in regard to receiving insufficient information about dementia; fewest concerns were expressed about inappropriate physician control. Families reported…

Relatives of patients with dementia completed questionnaires about caregiver stress and patients' functional and psychiatric problems during initial evaluation, at 4-17-month follow-up, and retrospectively. Retrospective accounts correlated well with initial reports but psychiatric symptoms were underreported in retrospective accounts. Spouses…

Examined the influence of social context variables on separation responses in nine-month-old infants. Indicated that nine month olds need not be highly stressed by being put in a new setting with a substitute caregiver. Use of procedures practiced in a model day care program effectively buffeted infant stress responses under individual and group…

Describes Australian program of personal construct counseling for nonprofessionals who voluntarily cared for persons with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. Considers problems in providing such counseling. Claims evidence indicates both anxiety levels and self-attributions about competence and helplessness of carers who have been counseled have…

Used data from 144 elderly parent-adult child pairs to examine family caregiving. Final multiple regression model accounted for 63.2 percent of variability in filial role enactment. One main effect, parental marital status, and two interaction effects, child's gender with parental health and adult child's affection toward parent with geographical…