Funded Projects

The physical, emotional, and time-intensive nature of caregiving for persons with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) frequently impairs the caregiver’s own physical and emotional health. Although there is wide variability in reactions of the caregiving experience, substantial percentages of caregivers are emotionally distressed by the caregiving role. Researchers, however, have paid little attention to the extent to which caregiver emotional distress is due to the losses they experience in the context of providing care to a family member who may no longer be able to occupy roles on which the relationship was formerly grounded. However, caring for a family member can also be a source of satisfaction thanks to the pleasure of giving back and/or providing well‐being. The purpose of our proposal will be to examine the impact of emotional distress on personal resilience of family members after a significant family members’ diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). The aims of our proposal will be: 1) measure family members’ perceptions of emotional loss/distress after a significant family member is diagnosed with MS; 2) examine how perceptions of loss/distress impact well-being and resilience for caregiving in these family members; 3) compare how perceptions of loss/distress impact well-being and resilience of younger (less than age 50) and older family members while controlling on time from diagnosis.