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Journal of Aging and Health
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The Relationship Between Self-Efficacy and Cumulative Health Risk Associated With Health Behavior Patterns in Female Caregivers of Elderly Relatives With Alzheimer's Dementia

Yaron G. Rabinowitz, PhD

Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC, rubes{at}ureach.com

Brent T. Mausbach, PhD

University of California, San Diego, CA

Larry W. Thompson, PhD

Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, Menlo Park, CA

Dolores Gallagher-Thompson, PhD, ABPP

Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, Menlo Park, CA

Objective: To promote caregiver well-being and to help caregivers persevere in their invaluable roles, personal resources that predict increased self-care and reduced health risk behaviors need to be identified. Method: This study examined relationships between self-efficacy beliefs in three distinct domains of caregiving and cumulative health risk associated with health behavior patterns. Results: Higher levels of self-efficacy for Obtaining Respite and self-efficacy for Controlling Upsetting Thoughts were found to be related to reduced health risk. Discussion: These findings suggest that caregivers who believe that they can remove themselves from the stresses of caregiving and who can manage the distorted cognitions often associated with caregiving may experience tangible benefits in health behaviors and, ultimately, improved physical health.

Key Words: self-e ficacy • predictors of health • health behaviors

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Journal of Aging and Health, Vol. 19, No. 6, 946-964 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/0898264307308559
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