Table 3.
Responses for the Dementia Caregiver Positive Feeling Scale 27‐item version in Phase 1 of the study
| Item | Strongly agree | Agree a little | Disagree a little | Strongly disagree | Mean ± SD | n (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Missing data | ||||||
| I feel relieved to see the care‐recipient calming down. | 109 (74.1) | 38 (25.9) | 0 | 0 | 3.7 ± 0.4 | 0 |
| I feel glad to see the care‐recipient's smile. | 84 (57.1) | 51 (34.7) | 9 (6.1) | 3 (2.0) | 3.5 ± 0.7 | 0 |
| I feel glad to see the care‐recipient accomplishing activities of daily living smoothly (e.g., changing clothes, eating). | 82 (55.8) | 52 (35.4) | 10 (6.8) | 3 (2.0) | 3.5 ± 0.7 | 0 |
| I was able to think about my life in old age. | 77 (52.7) | 51 (34.7) | 16 (10.9) | 3 (2.0) | 3.4 ± 0.8 | 0 |
| I have got room to breathe by using the long‐term care service. | 73 (50.3) | 56 (38.6) | 10 (6.9) | 6 (4.1) | 3.3 ± 0.9 | 2 |
| I was able to meet reliable medical/welfare professionals. | 60 (41.1) | 71 (48.6) | 12 (8.2) | 3 (2.1) | 3.3 ± 0.8 | 1 |
| I feel better after talking with a person in the same situation as myself. | 65 (44.2) | 56 (38.1) | 23 (15.6) | 3 (2.0) | 3.2 ± 0.8 | 0 |
| I have come to think that the care‐recipient feels relieved to see me by his/her side. | 62 (42.2) | 57 (38.8) | 22 (15.0) | 6 (4.1) | 3.2 ± 0.8 | 0 |
| My family moved toward a deeper understanding of dementia. | 42 (28.6) | 81 (55.1) | 22 (15.0) | 2 (1.4) | 3.1 ± 0.7 | 0 |
| I have come to think that there are meanings behind the care‐recipient's incomprehensible behaviour. | 40 (27.4) | 73 (50.0) | 30 (20.5) | 3 (2.1) | 3.0 ± 0.8 | 1 |
| I have come to reach out to people in need. | 31 (21.1) | 84 (57.1) | 28 (19.0) | 4 (2.7) | 3.0 ± 0.7 | 0 |
| I have come to deal with the care‐recipient's various behaviours (e.g., memory lapses, wandering) properly. | 27 (18.4) | 87 (59.2) | 29 (19.7) | 4 (2.7) | 2.9 ± 0.7 | 0 |
| I have come to study more for providing better care. | 33 (22.4) | 75 (51.0) | 32 (21.8) | 7 (4.8) | 2.9 ± 0.8 | 0 |
| I feel glad that the care‐recipient is here. | 37 (25.2) | 68 (46.3) | 32 (21.8) | 10 (6.8) | 2.9 ± 0.9 | 0 |
| I feel glad that I am taking care of the care‐recipient. | 39 (26.5) | 62 (42.2) | 34 (23.1) | 12 (8.2) | 2.9 ± 0.9 | 0 |
| I can accept everything as it is, even if I fail. | 22 (15.1) | 88 (60.3) | 32 (21.9) | 4 (2.7) | 2.9 ± 0.7 | 1 |
| My family relationship has deepened. | 29 (19.7) | 66 (44.9) | 47 (32.0) | 5 (3.4) | 2.8 ± 0.8 | 0 |
| I have come to listen deeply to the care‐recipient. | 30 (20.7) | 71 (49.0) | 35 (24.1) | 9 (6.2) | 2.8 ± 0.9 | 2 |
| I think caregiving is a way to return the favour to the care‐recipient. | 31 (21.4) | 70 (48.3) | 31 (21.4) | 13 (9.0) | 2.8 ± 0.9 | 2 |
| I learned from the care‐recipient. | 32 (21.8) | 64 (43.5) | 36 (24.5) | 15 (10.2) | 2.8 ± 0.9 | 0 |
| I have come to think that there are meanings in my life. | 33 (22.4) | 59 (40.1) | 43 (29.3) | 12 (8.2) | 2.8 ± 0.9 | 0 |
| My neighbours moved toward a deeper understanding of dementia. | 27 (18.4) | 67 (45.6) | 45 (30.6) | 8 (5.4) | 2.8 ± 0.8 | 0 |
| When the care‐recipient repeatedly asks the same questions, I have come to answer them each time as if for the first time. | 32 (22.1) | 61 (42.1) | 41 (28.3) | 11 (7.6) | 2.8 ± 0.9 | 2 |
| I have obtained perseverance. | 28 (19.1) | 64 (43.5) | 45 (30.6) | 9 (6.1) | 2.7 ± 0.9 | 1 |
| I have come to praise the care‐recipient. | 26 (17.7) | 58 (39.5) | 56 (38.1) | 7 (4.8) | 2.7 ± 0.8 | 0 |
| I discovered a new side of the care‐recipient. | 16 (10.9) | 55 (37.4) | 61 (41.5) | 15 (10.2) | 2.5 ± 0.8 | 0 |
| My relationship with the care‐recipient has deepened. | 20 (13.6) | 48 (32.7) | 60 (40.8) | 19 (12.9) | 2.5 ± 0.9 | 0 |
Missing data were rejected from the answer rates of the preliminary 27‐item scale.