Gender Differences in Disease, Function, and Behavioral Symptoms in Residents with Dementia. (September 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Resnick, Barbara; Galik, Elizabeth; McPherson, Rachel; Boltz, Marie; Van Haitsma, Kimberly; Kolanowski, Ann
• Is Part Of: Western journal of nursing research. Volume 44:Number 9(2022)
• Page Start: 812
• Page End: 821
• Publication Date: 2022-09
• Subjects: Mental health -- Clinical focus -- Anxiety/stress -- Health behavior/symptom focus -- Cognitive impairment -- Health behavior/symptom focus -- Depression -- Health behavior/symptom focus -- Nursing home -- Location of care -- Gerontology -- Population focus; Nursing -- Research -- Periodicals; Nursing -- Periodicals; Nursing -- Research -- West (U.S.) -- Periodicals; Nursing -- West (U.S.) -- Periodicals; Nursing -- Periodicals; Nursing Research -- Periodicals; Soins infirmiers -- Recherche -- Périodiques; Soins infirmiers -- Périodiques; Soins infirmiers -- Recherche -- États-Unis (Ouest) -- Périodiques; Soins infirmiers -- États-Unis (Ouest) -- Périodiques; Soins infirmiers; Recherche; États-Unis (Ouest); Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); 610.730702
• DOI: 10.1177/01939459211018822
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0193-9459

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to consider gender differences in depressive symptoms, agitation, resistiveness to care, physical function, and use of psychotropic medications in older adults with moderate to severe dementia in nursing homes. Sixty-seven nursing homes and 889 residents from two states were included. The majority of the participants were female (n = 640, 72%) and White (n = 618, 70%) with a mean age of 86.58 years ( SD = 10.31). Differences by gender with regard to age, physical function, depressive symptoms, agitation/aggression, and resistiveness to care were tested using multivariate analysis of variance. Older females with moderate to severe dementia present with more depressive symptoms (anxiety, sadness, and somatic complaints) than males. Males present with more aggressive behavior and are more likely to receive anticonvulsants. Caregivers should focus on preventing and managing depressive symptoms including anxiety, sadness, and somatic complaints among older females and aggressive behavior in older males with dementia.