An evaluation of the effects of a support group intervention on symptoms of depression, anxiety and burden in spouses/partners of aged care residents

INTERVENTION: Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: 1) an immediate treatment group, or 2) a delayed treatment group, also known as a waitlist control group (beginning treatment approximately 10 weeks after the immediate treatment group begins). Treatment entails weekly 2 hour support groups over 8 weeks that are facilitated by a psychologist. The groups will provide a forum where spouses can share relevant information and personal experiences relating to their shared circumstance of having a spouse/partner living in an aged care facility, and will cover topics and provide education around issues relevant to the caregiving experience, such as coping and communication strategies. Study questionnaires will be completed by all participants at two time points approximately 9 weeks apart. For the immediate treatment group, these time points will occur pre‐ and post‐treatment. For the waitlist control group, both time points will occur before treatment. CONDITION: Anxiety Burden on spouses/partners of aged care residents Depression PRIMARY OUTCOME: Mean anxiety score on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) Mean burden score on the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) Mean depression score on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES‐D) SECONDARY OUTCOME: Mean distress score on the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) Mean life satisfaction score on the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) Mean loneliness score on the UCLA Loneliness Scale Mean psychological distress score on the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) Mean scores for various coping styles on the Brief COPE scale Mean self‐efficacy score on the Proactive Coping Inventory (PCI) Mean social participation score on the Participation Scale (van Brakel et al., 2006) Mean social support score on the Social Support Questionnaire (SSQ) ‐ Short Form Mean worry score on the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ) INCLUSION CRITERIA: ‐ Must be the spouse/partner of an aged care resident who has resided at their current facility for at least 3 months ‐ Must be living independently ‐ Must be able to speak fluent English