The role of thought suppression and psychological inflexibility in older family caregivers’ psychological symptoms and quality of life

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2021.04.005Get rights and content
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Highlights

  • Avoidance strategies among older family caregivers were investigated.

  • Thought suppression and psychological inflexibility predicted depression and anxiety.

  • Psychological inflexibility explained quality of life.

  • Older caregivers would benefit from acceptance strategies to handle thought suppression and inflexibility.

Abstract

Background

Family caregivers often report high levels of distress, including depressive symptoms, anxiety, and reduced quality of life. There is a need for a greater understanding of the factors influencing, explaining, and maintaining psychological distress in family caregivers.

Aim

The aim of this study was to examine whether avoidance strategies such as thought suppression (WBSI), psychological inflexibility (AAQ-II), and, and caregiver experiential avoidance (EACQ) predict psychological distress (BDI-II, GAD-7) and quality of life (WHOQOL) in family caregivers aged 60 and over. We hypothesized that these avoidance strategies would explain elevated levels of psychological symptoms and lower quality of life.

Method

Altogether, 149 family caregivers completed self-report measures of depressive symptoms, anxiety, quality of life, thought suppression, psychological inflexibility and caregiver experiential avoidance. We conducted correlation and regression analyses to assess the associations and the predictive ability of these constructs.

Results

Together, psychological inflexibility and thought suppression accounted for between 40 and 46% of the variance in the depression and anxiety outcomes and 15% of the variance in the physical domain of quality of life. Unwanted thoughts, the subcomponent of thought suppression, was strongly associated with symptoms of depression and anxiety, and with physical and psychological quality of life.

Conclusion

Thought suppression and psychological inflexibility played a significant role in explaining family caregivers’ symptoms of depression and anxiety. In addition, psychological inflexibility was significantly related to quality of life. This suggests the need for acceptance-based strategies to handle thought suppression and psychological inflexibility.

Keywords

Older family caregivers
Thought suppression
Psychological inflexibility
Depressive symptoms
Anxiety
Quality of life

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