Examining factors in the mechanism for improving mental health of participants in caregivers' group

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the fit of the hypothesized conceptual model to the input data of participating in a caregivers' group. The model was based on Carl Rogers' theory of personality that "Sympathy" would raise "Adjusting" and "Adjusting" would improve mental health. Self-administered instruments were mailed to 626 members of caregivers' group, and 181 usable responses were analyzed (response rate=28.9%)."Sympathy" and "Adjusting" were measured using the original scale of caregiver's feelings after participating in the caregivers' group. Mental health was measured by the Japanese version of the 12-item General Health Questionnaire. The hypothesized conceptual model was examined using Structural Equation Modeling. This model performed well in term of CFI=0.93 and RMSEA=0.05. Coefficient from the variable of "Sympathy" to that of "Adjusting" was significantly (p<0.01)073. Coefficient from the variable of "Adjusting" to that of "GHQ" was significantly (p<0.05)0.19. The hypothesized conceptual model showing good fit to the input data would be useful theory for family caregivers in bad mental condition to support them. We found that sympathetic relation promoted adjusting to care and that raising adjusting to care would improve mental health with low degree.