Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

• Marziye Mansouri Gandomani ¹
• Reza Pourhosein ²
• Keyvan Salehi ³
• Zahra Vahabi ⁴

¹ University of Tehran

² 3. Professor, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Education, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

³ Associate Professor, Department of Educational Administration and Planning, Faculty of Psychology and Education, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

⁴ 4. Associate Professor, Department of Geriatric Medicine, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Family caregiving for a person with dementia is an interpersonal experience that takes shape within social interactions and is strongly influenced by the surrounding social context. This study aimed to identify the social factors influencing the caregiving experiences of family caregivers of individuals with dementia in the Iranian context, using a qualitative approach and a constructivist grounded theory methodology. The study population included family caregivers of people with dementia with at least six months of experience; 13 family caregivers (10 women) were selected through purposive sampling and participated in the study. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews. Data analysis was conducted concurrently with data collection using initial and focused coding and proceeded through conceptual ordering and identification of categories and subcategories until theoretical saturation was achieved. Conceptual classification of the findings led to the identification of two main categories and five subcategories. The category “Caregiving experience within inhibiting social interactions” included the subcategories of exposure to distressing reactions and inappropriate social interference, gradual loss of social ties, and caregiving loneliness due to minimal involvement of others. The category “Caregiving experience within facilitating social interactions” included the subcategories of social reactions as a source of strengthening resilience and meaning and sharing

Keywords

• Dementia
• Family caregivers
• Constructivist grounded theory
• Social context
• Social interactions