A1 Journal article (refereed)
Supported Web-Based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Older Family Caregivers (CareACT) Compared to Usual Care (2022)
Lappalainen, P., Pakkala, I., Lappalainen, R., & Nikander, R. (2022). Supported Web-Based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Older Family Caregivers (CareACT) Compared to Usual Care. Clinical Gerontologist, 45(4), 939-955. https://doi.org/10.1080/07317115.2021.1912239
JYU authors or editors
Publication details
All authors or editors: Lappalainen, Päivi; Pakkala, Inka; Lappalainen, Raimo; Nikander, Riku
Journal or series: Clinical Gerontologist
ISSN: 0731-7115
eISSN: 1545-2301
Publication year: 2022
Publication date: 15/04/2021
Volume: 45
Issue number: 4
Pages range: 939-955
Publisher: Routledge
Publication country: United States
Publication language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/07317115.2021.1912239
Publication open access: Openly available
Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel
Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/75121
Abstract
Methods: Altogether, 149 family caregivers participated in this quasi-experimental study. Primary outcome measure was depression. Secondary outcomes included anxiety, sense of coherence, quality of life, psychological flexibility, experiential avoidance, and thought suppression. The questionnaires were administered at baseline, and four, and 10 months post-measurement. We investigated differences in the changes between the groups using Mplus modeling techniques.
Results: Regarding the main outcome of depression, the results suggest that the CareACT intervention was superior to standardized rehabilitation and to the support given by caregiver associations at four months, both showing a medium-sized difference between the groups. However, the change from four to 10 months post-intervention was not significantly different between these groups (d = 0.32–0.36). Thought suppression showed a significantly different change between the three groups from baseline to four months and to 10 months post-measurement (p = .038).
Conclusions: Web-based ACT may have beneficial effects on depressive symptoms and thought suppression in older caregivers.
Clinical implications: Web-based ACT could be a feasible alternative to institutional rehabilitation and support provided by voluntary caregiver associations. Web-based ACT responds flexibly to the needs of caregivers and provides them an opportunity for learning new skills to promote well-being.
Keywords: older people; family caregivers; mental well-being; depression (mental disorders); quality of life; acceptance and commitment therapy; rehabilitation
Free keywords: family caregivers; community-dwelling older adults; rehabilitation; psychological well-being; depression; thought suppression; quality of life; online; web-based; acceptance and commitment therapy
Contributing organizations
Ministry reporting: Yes
Reporting Year: 2022
JUFO rating: 1
