Resumen

FIGUEIREDO, Daniela; LIMA, Margarida Pedroso  y  SOUSA, Liliana. Family caregivers of dependent elderly with and without dementia: Social Personal network and life satisfaction. Psic., Saúde & Doenças [online]. 2012, vol.13, n.1, pp.117-129. ISSN 1645-0086.

This study aims to analyse and compare social personal network and life satisfaction in family carers of demented and non-demented elderly. The sample comprises 99 participants: 52 care of a demented elderly and 47 of a non-demented one. Social personal network was studied by a questionnaire designed from Social Personal Network Analysis Instrument. Life satisfaction was evaluated by the Portuguese version of Satisfaction With Life Scale. Main findings suggest: both sub-samples have small and mainly primary social personal networks; technical support is the less represented function; life satisfaction is generally low for both sub-samples, nevertheless lower among those who care for a demented elderly; family carers of a demented elderly with smaller social personal networks are less satisfied with life. These results emphasize the importance of psychosocial interventions centred on the personal network, developing additional support sources.

Palabras clave : family caregiver; dependent elderly; social personal network; satisfaction with life.

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