Striking a balance: health behaviour changes in Chinese spouses of people with dementia to manage dementia risk: a qualitative study
Abstract Background Multiple studies have shown that spouses of people with dementia (PwD) are two to six times more likely to develop dementia compared to the general population. Encouraging healthy behaviours and addressing modifiable risk factors could potentially prevent or delay up to 40% of de...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-12-01
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| Series: | BMC Nursing |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-024-02588-3 |
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| author | Shuyan Fang Wei Li Shizheng Gao Dongpo Song Shengze Zhi Yanyan Gu Jiao Sun |
| author_facet | Shuyan Fang Wei Li Shizheng Gao Dongpo Song Shengze Zhi Yanyan Gu Jiao Sun |
| author_sort | Shuyan Fang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Multiple studies have shown that spouses of people with dementia (PwD) are two to six times more likely to develop dementia compared to the general population. Encouraging healthy behaviours and addressing modifiable risk factors could potentially prevent or delay up to 40% of dementia cases. However, little is known about how health behaviours change when a spouse assumes the role of primary caregiver. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the shared lived experience of spousal caregivers of PwD, focusing on identifying the trajectory and key events of that shape health behaviour changes after their partner’s diagnosis. These findings seek to inform strategies for adopting and sustaining healthy behaviours among spousal caregivers. Method A qualitative descriptive study was conducted. Using maximum variation and purposive sampling, 20 spouses of PwD who exhibited two or more risk factors were recruited for semistructured interviews. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis. Results We found that in traditional Chinese culture health behaviour changes for spouses and people with dementia coping with the challenges of dementia occurred in two directions; (a) priming-leaping-coping: becoming a “smart” caregiver and (b) struggling-trudging-silence: the process by which the self is “swallowed.” Conclusion This study highlights how caregiving experiences influence spouses’ health behaviors and dementia prevention, particularly in the Chinese context. The findings underscore the challenges of balancing caregiving with self-care. Culturally tailored, family-centered interventions are needed to support both caregivers and their long-term well-being. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-920cba6ed7374713ba4ec44a93e126b3 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1472-6955 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Nursing |
| spelling | doaj-art-920cba6ed7374713ba4ec44a93e126b32024-12-22T12:24:22ZengBMCBMC Nursing1472-69552024-12-0123111210.1186/s12912-024-02588-3Striking a balance: health behaviour changes in Chinese spouses of people with dementia to manage dementia risk: a qualitative studyShuyan Fang0Wei Li1Shizheng Gao2Dongpo Song3Shengze Zhi4Yanyan Gu5Jiao Sun6School of Nursing, Jilin UniversityGeriatric Cardiovascular Department, Hebei General HospitalSchool of Nursing, Jilin UniversitySchool of Nursing, Jilin UniversitySchool of Nursing, Jilin UniversitySchool of Nursing, Jilin UniversitySchool of Nursing, Jilin UniversityAbstract Background Multiple studies have shown that spouses of people with dementia (PwD) are two to six times more likely to develop dementia compared to the general population. Encouraging healthy behaviours and addressing modifiable risk factors could potentially prevent or delay up to 40% of dementia cases. However, little is known about how health behaviours change when a spouse assumes the role of primary caregiver. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the shared lived experience of spousal caregivers of PwD, focusing on identifying the trajectory and key events of that shape health behaviour changes after their partner’s diagnosis. These findings seek to inform strategies for adopting and sustaining healthy behaviours among spousal caregivers. Method A qualitative descriptive study was conducted. Using maximum variation and purposive sampling, 20 spouses of PwD who exhibited two or more risk factors were recruited for semistructured interviews. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis. Results We found that in traditional Chinese culture health behaviour changes for spouses and people with dementia coping with the challenges of dementia occurred in two directions; (a) priming-leaping-coping: becoming a “smart” caregiver and (b) struggling-trudging-silence: the process by which the self is “swallowed.” Conclusion This study highlights how caregiving experiences influence spouses’ health behaviors and dementia prevention, particularly in the Chinese context. The findings underscore the challenges of balancing caregiving with self-care. Culturally tailored, family-centered interventions are needed to support both caregivers and their long-term well-being.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-024-02588-3DementiaRisk factorsSpousesHealth behaviourQualitative studies |
| spellingShingle | Shuyan Fang Wei Li Shizheng Gao Dongpo Song Shengze Zhi Yanyan Gu Jiao Sun Striking a balance: health behaviour changes in Chinese spouses of people with dementia to manage dementia risk: a qualitative study BMC Nursing Dementia Risk factors Spouses Health behaviour Qualitative studies |
| title | Striking a balance: health behaviour changes in Chinese spouses of people with dementia to manage dementia risk: a qualitative study |
| title_full | Striking a balance: health behaviour changes in Chinese spouses of people with dementia to manage dementia risk: a qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | Striking a balance: health behaviour changes in Chinese spouses of people with dementia to manage dementia risk: a qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Striking a balance: health behaviour changes in Chinese spouses of people with dementia to manage dementia risk: a qualitative study |
| title_short | Striking a balance: health behaviour changes in Chinese spouses of people with dementia to manage dementia risk: a qualitative study |
| title_sort | striking a balance health behaviour changes in chinese spouses of people with dementia to manage dementia risk a qualitative study |
| topic | Dementia Risk factors Spouses Health behaviour Qualitative studies |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-024-02588-3 |
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