Effects of Social Support on Caregiver Burden and Depressive Symptoms in Family Caregivers of Patients with Alzheimer's Disease

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia affect an ever-growing number of individuals in the United States, and the family members in charge of caring for relatives with dementia often experience debilitating caregiving burden and depression as a result of this responsibility. METHODS: Using a sample of 612 family caregivers from the Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer's Caregiver Health, this study examined perceived social support (i.e., level of satisfaction with social support received) as a protective factor of caregiving burden and depression. RESULTS: Regression results indicated that there was a significant negative effect of perceived social support on caregiving burden (B=-0.35, P<0.01) and depressive symptoms (B=-0.55, P<0.01). Mediation analysis results indicated a significant indirect effect of perceived social support on depressive symptoms through caregiving burden (B=-0.103, CI=-0.207/-0.035). DISCUSSION: These findings indicate that higher perceived social support may reduce caregiving burden, and in turn, reduce depressive symptoms. These findings provide insight into the mechanisms linking social support with depressive symptoms among caregivers.