Date of Conferral

8-28-2025

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Brent Robbins

Abstract

Caring for elderly parents with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) poses two major challenges for adult-child caregivers: the tasks involved in taking care of ailing parents and also potentially living in fear of developing the same disease. This research examined how caregivers with such fear regard their vulnerability to AD and how they manage the stress that comes with caregiving for someone with a disease they dread developing themselves. This grounded theory study employed the appraisal theory of emotions and the theory of moods as frameworks and aimed to establish awareness regarding coping strategies that adult-child caregivers have about caretaking and their likelihood of developing AD. Semi-structured interviews were conducted via videoconference with 12 caregivers recruited through an AD support group as well as online through social media sites. The data was analyzed for emergent themes using coding derived from comparative methods focused on coping strategies. The findings indicated that caregivers experience significant anxiety about their future health, which they manage through various coping mechanisms such as seeking information, emotional support, lifestyle changes, and mindfulness. Despite these challenges, some caregivers reported positive outcomes, including strengthened family bonds and personal growth. The findings of this study may be used to promote social change by indicating the importance of identifying coping-based interventions that may enable caregivers to manage their fear and enhance quality of life for themselves and their parent with AD. The results may also assist healthcare professionals in the delivery of support services to caregivers of parents with AD.

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