Humor as a Coping Strategy for Adult-Child Caregivers of Individuals with Alzheimer's Disease

Guided by a phenomenological theoretical perspective, 6 young adult-child caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease were interviewed. The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of the experiences of young adult-child caregivers, with the key focus being the use of humor as a coping strategy in this caregiving circumstance. Qualitative analysis revealed a unique young adult-child caregiver experience in relation to humor including an acknowledgment of 3 key determinants that must be considered if humor is to be effective as a coping strategy, the identification of 4 factors that influence humor use, and finally a description of the perceived benefits of humor. Moreover, these research findings highlight the potential for the use of humor to be incorporated as a coping strategy for caregivers in the hope of preventing caregiver burnout and optimizing patient care. (Geriatr Nurs 2009;30:397-408)