Objective
This study examines effects of daily use of adult day service (ADS) programs by caregivers
of individuals with dementia (IWD) on a salivary biomarker of stress reactivity, dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate
(DHEA-S), and whether these effects on DHEA-S are associated with daily variability
in positive mood and depressive symptoms.
Methods
We used a daily diary design of 8 consecutive days with alternation of intervention
(ADS) and nonintervention days to evaluate within- and between-person effects of the
intervention. Family caregivers (N = 151) of IWD who were using ADS were interviewed
daily by telephone at home. Saliva samples were collected from caregivers five times
a day for 8 consecutive days and were assayed for DHEA-S. Daily telephone interviews
assessed daily stressors and mood.
Results
DHEA-S levels were significantly higher on days after ADS use. Daily DHEA-S levels
covaried significantly with daily positive mood but not with depressive symptoms.
Conclusion
These results demonstrate an association of ADS use by family caregivers and higher
DHEA-S levels on the next day. Prior research has found that higher DHEA-S levels
are protective against the physiologic damaging effects of stressor exposure and may
reduce risks of illness. Regular use of ADS may help reduce depletion of DHEA-S and
allow the body to mount a protective and restorative response to the physiologic demands
of caregiving. To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine DHEA-S levels
across the day in connection with an intervention that affected daily exposure to
stressors.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: February 03, 2014
Accepted:
January 29,
2014
Received in revised form:
January 27,
2014
Received:
September 11,
2013
Identification
Copyright
© 2014 American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
