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The Post-Traumatic Growth Experience in Family Caregivers of People with Dementia: A Descriptive Qualitative Study
Yang Wang, Yan‐Hong Gu, Ruxia Qiu, Dechao Long, Na Sun. Psychology Research and Behavior Management, 2025-06-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Four themes were identified, along with eleven sub-themes associated with them: cognitive-behavioral shift (transitioning family roles, recognizing disease characteristics, focusing on health management, and responding positively and effectively); personal strength enhancement (enhancing coping capacity, increased psychological resilience and increased responsibility); improved relationships with others (harmonizing in family relations and benefiting from social interactions); and changes in life perceptions (reshaping of values, and reconstructing the meaning of life). Family caregivers of people with dementia experience multifaceted post-traumatic growth after a traumatic event of disease diagnosis and patient caregiving. It is necessary to focus on positive psychological resources for family caregivers to improve the burden of caregiving. Future research should take measures to promote family caregivers' positive perceptions, explore their own potential and strengths, and help them make full use of family and social support to enhance their post-traumatic growth.
Key findings
- Four themes were identified, along with eleven sub-themes associated with them: cognitive-behavioral shift (transitioning family roles, recognizing disease characteristics, focusing on health management, and responding positively and effectively); personal strength enhancement (enhancing coping capacity, increased psychological resilience and increased responsibility); improved relationships with others (harmonizing in family relations and benefiting from social interactions); and changes in life perceptions (reshaping of values, and reconstructing the meaning of life).
- Family caregivers of people with dementia experience multifaceted post-traumatic growth after a traumatic event of disease diagnosis and patient caregiving.
- It is necessary to focus on positive psychological resources for family caregivers to improve the burden of caregiving.
- Future research should take measures to promote family caregivers' positive perceptions, explore their own potential and strengths, and help them make full use of family and social support to enhance their post-traumatic growth.
Why it matters
This qualitative study identified themes of post-traumatic growth among family caregivers of people with dementia, including cognitive-behavioral shift, personal strength enhancement, improved relationships, and changes in life perceptions. It concerns caregiver experience and does not test any treatment, cure, or prevention for Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 36/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it. We have no data on senior author's track record, so that was left out: it earned 35 of the 96 points we could judge it on, which is 36 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Psychology Research and Behavior Management) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Psychology Research and Behavior Management: journal h-index 84 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 2 / 7 | Cited 5 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 1.7 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 5.2× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 5 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | — / 4 | Senior author's record not available — left out of this score |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Fudan University: institution h-index 954 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40589726) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Points | 35 / 96 | Scored on 19 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 35 of the 96 points we could judge it on is 36 out of 100. |
| Total | 36 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.2147/prbm.s525683
- PubMed: 40589726
- Original source →
- Free full text: Psychology Research and Behavior Management →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Wang, Y., Gu, Y., Qiu, R., Long, D., & Sun, N. (2025). The Post-Traumatic Growth Experience in Family Caregivers of People with Dementia: A Descriptive Qualitative Study. Psychology Research and Behavior Management. https://doi.org/10.2147/prbm.s525683
Vancouver
Wang Y, Gu Y, Qiu R, Long D, Sun N. The Post-Traumatic Growth Experience in Family Caregivers of People with Dementia: A Descriptive Qualitative Study. Psychology Research and Behavior Management. 2025. doi:10.2147/prbm.s525683. PMID: 40589726.
BibTeX
@article{wang2025-40589726,
author = {Wang, Yang and Gu, Yan‐Hong and Qiu, Ruxia and Long, Dechao and Sun, Na},
title = {{The Post-Traumatic Growth Experience in Family Caregivers of People with Dementia: A Descriptive Qualitative Study}},
journal = {Psychology Research and Behavior Management},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.2147/prbm.s525683},
pmid = {40589726},
url = {https://doi.org/10.2147/prbm.s525683}
}
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