Computational Modeling of Caregiver Stress
Review of Literature
Social work researchers have begun to
embrace agent-based modeling . In recent decades , complexity theory , as implemented in complex adaptive systems , has become an accepted natural science paradigm . Its assumptions , however , have posed significant challenges to its implementation in the social work literature . Until the last few years , the application relied on its metaphorical use ( Bolland & Atherton , 1999 ; Halmi , 2003 ; Hudson , 2000 , 2004 ; Trevillon , 2000 ; Warren , Franklin , & Streeter , 1998 ; Woehle , 2007 ). Although identified as a promising approach more than three decades ago ( Wooldridge , 1981 ), social science researchers and evaluators have begun to apply this approach to the third pillar of science ( after data and theory ).
Models are created to simulate an environment or reality , and then experiments are run within these environments in order to forecast specific phenomena ( Epstein , 1999 ; Wolf-Branigin , 2012 ). Unlike the more widely used systems dynamics modeling ( Sterman , 2000 ), which focuses on macro-level system behavior , agent-based modeling starts at the opposite end and model ’ s interacting individuals as agents to understand the emergent group behavior . Modeling allows us to visualize the larger patterns resulting from the individual-agent-level interactions and allows for information concerning individual decisions and preferences to be entered into model building ( Wolf- Branigin , 2013 ).
Agent-Based Modeling in Social Work
Use of agent-based modeling in social service-related research though limited has begun to be published ( Israel & Wolf-Branigin , 2011 ). Examples vary and address topics including public health and epidemiology ( Auchincloss & Diez Roux , 2008 ; Gorman , Mezic , Mezic , & Gruenewald , 2006 ), racial segregation ( Chen , Irwin , Jayaprakash , & Warren , 2005 ; Schelling , 1978 ), and behavioral and ecological interactions ( Epstein & Axtell , 1996 ). More recently , agent-based modeling has begun to appear in the social work literature as demonstrated by its use to investigate social and cultural capital ( Woehle , Jones , Baker , & Piper , 2009 ), home care services ( Isern et al ., 2009 ), and caregiving and older adults ( Ihara , Horio , & Tompkins , 2012 ).
Agent-based modeling has a potential role in detailed policy analysis in the era of big data ( Couldry & Powell , 2014 ; Pentland , 2014 ) because of the increased availability of individual level data . Problems still exist , however , in matching current modeling schemes and social realities ( Miller , 2014 ). In an effort to increase a realism perspective to the development and use of this modeling approach in the social policy arena , this methodological article seeks to explain how to design and document the process of ABM building using our model of caregiver stress as an example .
Caregiving for Individuals with Dementia
Alzheimer ’ s disease and other dementias are debilitating , progressive , and costly , affecting individuals , their families , and the long-term care system . Approximately , 5.2 million people were diagnosed with Alzheimer ’ s disease in 2014 and projections are that these rates may nearly triple to 13.8 million by 2050 ( Alzheimer ’ s Association , 2014 ). Informal family caregivers provide the majority of
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