Implications of attachment relationships for the social and emotional well-being of older people, people with dementia, and family caregivers.
Lead Research Organisation:
Bangor University
Department Name: Sch of Psychology
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Organisations
Publications
Sharon Nelis (Author)
(2013)
Attachment styles and attachment needs in people with dementia and family carers
in Journal of Dementia Care
Nelis SM
(2014)
Attachment in people with dementia and their caregivers: a systematic review.
in Dementia (London, England)
Nelis SM
(2012)
Attachment representations in people with dementia and their carers: implications for well-being within the dyad.
in Aging & mental health
Lamont RA
(2017)
Social Support and Attitudes to Aging in Later Life.
in International journal of aging & human development
| Description | Previous reviews have focused on attachment from the point of view of the caregiver and excluded the person with dementia (PwD). Our systematic review of empirical studies elicited four general themes within the literature: parent fixation in dementia, observational studies of attachment behaviour in dementia, attachment and dementia behavioural problems, and attachment in dementia caregivers. In reviewing the studies we highlighted a number of methodological issues including choice of respondent, the measurement of attachment and the lack of longitudinal perspectives. The implications of attachment for the care and management of people with dementia and caregivers were considered. Our study with people dementia was one of the first to examine the relationship between attachment and the subjective emotional experiences of PwD and their primary carers, with a particular focus on the reciprocal nature of attachment in the dyad. Attachment security was related to a more positive self concept and lower anxiety in PwD, and carer attachment security was related to their psychological health. We did not find evidence for congruence in attachment within dyads, and PwD attachment did not predict carer well-being and vice versa. Assessment of attachment figures and their functions have not been extensively considered in later life samples and our second study of older people revealed some interesting relationships between attachment style and the number and range of figures that meet the attachment needs of older people. It highlighted the importance of attachment security for older people's perceived social support and subjective well-being. |
| Exploitation Route | The findings had an impact on: 1. Carers and people with dementia 2. Nurse, Occupational therapists, social workers 3. Alzheimer's Society staff 4. Clinical psychologists working in the NHS 5. Old age psychiatrists and other health professionals 6. Voluntary sector staff 7. Older people living in the community |
| Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Healthcare |
| Description | Attachment - DSDC Training |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Study findings have been integrated into the DSDC Wales Certificate in Dementia Care programme, appearing in two modules, 'professional update training' and 'loss stress and change'. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013,2014,2015 |
| Description | Attachment - Zeedyk training and book 2014 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Findings from the study have been use in attachment training courses for professionals run by Suzanne Zeedyk Ltd. The work is cited in the book 'Rethinking Communication'; The connected baby guide to advanced dementia by Maggie Ellis and Suzanne Zeedyk (2014). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013,2014,2015 |
| Description | Attachment AAIC 2011 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | paper presentation |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Nelis, S.M., Whitaker, C.J. &Clare, L. (2011, July). Attachment representations and well-being in people with dementia and their caregivers. Poster presentation at The Alzheimer's Association International Conference on Alzheimer's disease (AAIC), Paris. Discussion on methods led to changes in other paper design |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |
| Description | Attachment Dementia GSA 2011 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | paper presentation |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Clare, L., Nelis, S.M., & Whitaker, C.J. (2011, November). Attachment representations in people with dementia and their caregivers: implications for well-being. Paper presented at The Gerontology Society of America Annual Conference, Boston. n/a |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |
| Description | Attachment Older People GSA 2011 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | paper presentation |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Nelis, S.M., Clare, L., Whitaker, C.J. & Quinn, C. (2011, November). Attachment organization and the social and emotional well-being of older adults. Paper presented at The Gerontology Society of America Annual Conference, Boston. n/a |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |