IlSung Nam
Hallym University Aging Institute, Chuncheon, Korea
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.
Korean J Health Promot 2013;13(4):156-163
Keywords: Social support, Depression, Family caregivers |