Date of Award
1989
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Art
First Advisor
Arlene Taich
Second Advisor
Allene Jackson
Third Advisor
Beverly Krause
Abstract
This thesis explores how support groups can reduce perceived stress among caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. Linda Blewer Swindle, a registered nurse, provides a comprehensive look at both the emotional and practical challenges faced by those providing care, particularly as the disease progresses through its stages. The work begins with a clinical overview of Alzheimer’s, differentiating it from normal aging and emphasizing the disease’s slow, irreversible, and deeply disruptive nature.
Swindle then examines the concept of stress, highlighting both physiological and psychological dimensions, and describes Rational Emotive Therapy (RET) as a tool to help caregivers reframe negative thought patterns. Central to the thesis is the hypothesis that participation in Alzheimer’s support groups alleviates stress through shared understanding, practical advice, emotional validation, and mutual support.
Through a survey of caregivers from various support groups in the St. Louis area, the study finds that most participants report reduced stress levels, particularly emotional stress. The thesis also notes differences in experience based on gender and caregiving duration. Swindle concludes that support groups offer essential relief, functioning not only as educational resources but also as spaces of connection, empathy, and emotional resilience for overwhelmed caregivers navigating the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
Recommended Citation
Swindle, Linda Blewer, "The Reduction of Stress as Perceived by the Alzheimer Patient Caregivers Through the Use of Support Groups" (1989). Theses. 1336.
https://digitalcommons.lindenwood.edu/theses/1336
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
