A mismatch between supply and demand of social support in dementia care: a qualitative study on the perspectives of spousal caregivers and their social network members

Alieske E. H. Dam, Lizzy M. M. Boots, Martin P. J. van Boxtel, Frans R. J. Verhey, Marjolein E. de Vugt*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

196 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Background: Access to social support contributes to feelings of independence and better social health. This qualitative study aims to investigate multi-informant perspectives on informal social support in dementia care networks.

Methods: Ten spousal caregivers of people with dementia (PwD) completed an ecogram, a social network card and a semi-structured interview. The ecogram aimed to trigger subjective experiences regarding social support. Subsequently, 17 network members were interviewed. The qualitative analyses identified codes, categories, and themes.

Results: Sixth themes emerged: (1) barriers to ask for support; (2) facilitators to ask for support; (3) barriers to offer support; (4) facilitators to offer support; (5) a mismatch between supply and demand of social support; and (6) openness in communication to repair the imbalance.

Discussion: Integrating social network perspectives resulted in a novel model identifying a mismatch between the supply and demand of social support, strengthened by a cognitive bias: caregivers reported to think for other social network members and vice versa. Openness in communication in formal and informal care systems might repair this mismatch.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)881-892
Number of pages12
JournalInternational Psychogeriatrics
Volume30
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2018

Keywords

  • informal caregiver
  • support-seeking behavior
  • network perspectives
  • qualitative interviews
  • HELP-SEEKING
  • ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE
  • STRATEGIES
  • HEALTH
  • INTERVENTIONS
  • PEOPLE
  • MODELS
  • NEEDS
  • POWER

Cite this