Interpersonal Conflicts Among Family Caregivers of the Elderly: The Importance of Social Skills

Pinto, Francine Náthalie Ferraresi Rodrigues; Barham, Elizabeth Joan; Prette, Zilda Aparecida Pereira Del

doi:10.1590/1982-43272664201605

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Articles • Paidéia (Ribeirão Preto) 26 (64) • May-Aug 2016 • https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-43272664201605 copy

Interpersonal Conflicts Among Family Caregivers of the Elderly: The Importance of Social Skills^* * Article derived from the first author's doctoral dissertation, under supervision of the second and co-supervision of the third co-authors, and defended in 2016 in the Graduate Program in Psychology at the Universidade Federal de São Carlos.

Conflitos Interpessoais no Cuidado de Idosos: Importância das Habilidades Sociais do Cuidador

Conflictos Interpersonales en el Cuidado de Personas Mayores: La Importancia de las Habilidades Sociales del Cuidador

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Abstract

Caring for someone, even when this person is highly regarded, can be stressful, resulting in a decrease in the caregiver's quality of life. The aim of this study was to identify the main conflicts involved in the task of caring for an elderly relative, reported by caregivers, elderly care-recipients and professionals in the field of aging, and to identify social skills (SS) considered as being important to accomplish this task, helping to minimize the conflicts in this context. We interviewed 50 caregivers of the elderly, 25 elderly care-recipients, and 25 professionals in the field of aging, who answered questions about conflicts linked to this context and about SS that are important when taking care of an elderly person. The main conflicts involved difficulties to reconcile differences of opinion, or financial issues. The SSs considered most useful included: expressing positive feelings, controlling aggressiveness, and discussing problems. It will be important to verify if caregivers who develop their SS repertoire also improve their quality of life.

Keywords
caregivers; aged; social skills; conflict; quality of life

Conflict	Caregivers	Elderly	Professionals
Lack of support from other family members	"Overwork, lack of support, understanding, interest" (P 39) "The others [siblings] do not visit" (P48)	"She [caregiver] thinks that the other children have to pay more attention" (P53)	"Lack of respect and understanding of each other, lack of moral support" (P76) "Difficulty in asking for ... help" (P84)
Financial	"Financial" (P1)	"She [caregiver] spends a lot" (P58)	"Lack of financial support" (P76)
Uncooperative care recipient	"Stubbornness of the elderly person" (P15) "The elderly person wants everything her own way" (P22)	"My stubbornness" (P62) "When I complain" (P63)	"Elder does not accept his dependence on the caregiver" (P96)
Different ways of thinking, among caregivers	"Taking care of her in a different way: bathing, food, changing clothes, getting her out of bed" (P6) "Thinking differently than the other" (P30)	"Differences of opinion" (P54) "The siblings who always seem to criticize" (P57)	"Family does not agree" (P80)
Caregivers' lack of time for themselves	"Having time for themselves" (P13)		"Parallel demands faced by the caregiver" (P83)
Care recipient's preference for one child	"His [elderly person's] preference for a child, and the other is hurt" (P4)		"Preference of the elder for a child" (P81)
Alcoholism		"Alcoholism, excessive drinking" (P59)
No conflicts	"I have no conflicts, because people trust me" (P19)	"I went through this situation. There is a lot of exchange of love and affection" (P61)

Conflict	Group of Respondents
Conflict	Caregivers (n = 50)	Elderly (n = 25)	Professionals (n = 25)	Total (N = 100)
Lack of support from other family members	20 (40%)	8 (32%)	10 (40%)	38 (38%)
Financial	10 (20%)	5 (20%)	11 (44%)	26 (26%)
Uncooperative care recipient	13 (26%)	4 (16%)	2 (8%)	19 (19%)
Different ways of thinking, among caregivers	12 (24%)	3 (12%)	1 (4%)	16 (16%)
Caregivers' lack of time for themselves	3 (6%)	0 (0%)	1 (4%)	4 (4%)
Care recipient's preference for one child	2 (4%)	0 (0%)	1 (4%)	3 (3%)
Alcoholism	0 (0%)	2 (8%)	0 (0%)	2 (2%)
No conflicts	3 (6%)	4 (16%)	0 (0%)	7 (7%)

Skills	Group of Respondents
Skills	Caregivers	Elderly	Professionals
Obtain information about the health condition	"To better take care of the elderly person, for example, [find out] about treatment" (P31)	"Yes...how the illness works, what you're thinking, so you can understand" (P51)	"Looking for information, knowledge, understanding the situation" (P82)
Express positive feelings	"Giving kisses, being playful and affectionate to make her feel better" (P5) "When the other is taking good care" (P6)	"Making food for myself, even though I am old and have health problems" (P54)	"When the health condition of the elderly person improves, or he can stay calm" (P82)
Control aggressiveness	"When the person who helps me talks too much, and irritates the elderly person; with family members who do not help" (P25)	"When I don't want to do the things that she wants to do" (P62)	"Aggressiveness of the elderly person, family members who criticize, patients who shout and talk a lot" (P84)
Talk through problems	"Sitting down and talking to other family members to solve the problems" (P4)	"Say what you think calmly , without getting angry, caring with love" (P53)	"Sitting down and talking and trying to resolve the situation as best as possible, listening to the other" (P76)
Use coping strategies	"Take the elderly person to a skilled physician, even if my siblings do not want me to" (P19)	"With me, because I am a difficult person" (P56)	"Check what is important for the elderly person, even if the family is against it" (P80)
Ask for help	"To dialogue, talk, ask for support when you need it" (P32)	"Asking for help from the children, when needed" (P55)	"Asking for help from siblings..." (P97)
Arrange time for yourself	"[Time] with friends, at the gym... it is important to maintain your life, so you don't get sick" (P37)	"Getting out to talk to others, explain what is good for her, going to church, praying" (P60)	"Opportunity for the caregivers to interact socially and de-stress, have time for themselves" (P97)
Express opinions	"Telling him [care recipient] that he has to shower, take his medicine" (P29)		"To express his feelings" (P80)

Social skill	Group of Respondents
Social skill	Caregivers (n = 50)	Elderly (n = 25)	Professionals (n = 25)	Total (N = 100)
Obtain information about the health condition	35 (70%)	15 (60%)	17 (68%)	67 (67%)
Express positive feelings	34 (68%)	14 (56%)	11 (44%)	59 (59%)
Control aggressiveness	33 (66%)	9 (36%)	14 (56%)	56 (56%)
Talk through problems	15 (30%)	10 (40%)	9 (36%)	34 (34%)
Use coping strategies	11 (22%)	4 (16%)	6 (24%)	21 (21%)
Ask for help	12 (24%)	1 (4%)	7 (28%)	20 (20%)
Arrange time for yourself	10 (20%)	3 (12%)	6 (24%)	19 (19%)
Express opinions	11 (22%)	0 (0%)	1 (4%)	12 (12%)

Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Filosofia Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psicologia Av.Bandeirantes 3900 - Monte Alegre, 14040-901 Ribeirão Preto - São Paulo - Brasil, Tel.: (55 16) 3315-3829 - Ribeirão Preto - SP - Brazil
E-mail: paideia@usp.br

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[1] Correspondence address: Francine N. F. R. Pinto. Rua Novo Horizonte, 164, apt. 224, Chácara da Barra. CEP 13090-768. Campinas-SP, Brazil. francinenaty@yahoo.com.br