A Longitudinal Analysis of the Effects of the NYU Caregiver Intervention-Adult Child on Subjective Health

Abstract

Objective: The present study examined whether the NYU Caregiver Intervention for Adult Children (NYUCI-AC) influenced the subjective health of adult child family caregivers of persons with dementia. Methods: A randomized controlled trial, conducted between 2006 and 2012, compared outcomes among a psychosocial intervention group to usual care controls. One hundred and seven adult child caregivers of persons with dementia were included in the sample (n=54 assigned to the intervention group; n=53 assigned to the usual care control group). Participants were assessed up to eight times; every four months in the first year, then every six months afterwards. The current study focused on the effects of the NYUCI-AC on changes in self-rated health over the study period. Results: Growth curve models found that self-rated health among intervention group and control group caregivers did not differ over the study period. No effect of the intervention on self-rated health emerged over time after controlling for baseline differences in gender and satisfaction with social support. Conclusions: The NYUCI-AC is a multicomponent psychosocial intervention that provides counseling and support to adult child caregivers and did not alter subjective health over time.