Resilience and burden in caregivers of older adults: moderating and mediating effects of perceived social support

Abstract

BackgroundThe burden of caring for an older adult can be a form of stress and influence caregivers’ daily lives and health. Previous studies have reported that resilience and social support play an important role in reducing physical and psychological burden in caregivers. Thus, the present study aimed to examine whether perceived social support served as a possible protective factor of burden among caregivers of older adults in Singapore using moderation and mediation effects’ models.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study with 285 caregivers providing care to older adults aged 60 years and above who were diagnosed with physical and/or mental illness in Singapore. The Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) was used to measure resilience and burden was measured by the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI). The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) was used to measure perceived social support. Hayes’ PROCESS macro was used to test moderation and mediation effects of perceived social support in the relationship between resilience and burden after controlling for sociodemographic variables. Indirect effects were tested using bootstrapped confidence intervals (CI).ResultsThe mean scores observed were CD-RISC: 70.8/100 (SD = 15.1), MSPSS: 62.2/84 (SD = 12.2), and ZBI: 23.2/88 (SD = 16.0) respectively. While perceived social support served as a full mediator between resilience and caregiver burden (β = − 0.14, 95% CI -0.224 to − 0.072, p < 0.05), it did not show a significant moderating effect.ConclusionsPerceived social support mediates the association between resilience and caregiver burden among caregivers of older adults in Singapore. It is crucial for healthcare professionals, particularly those who interact and deliver services to assist caregivers, to promote and identify supportive family and friends’ network that may help to address caregiver burden.

Resilience as a moderator between Objective and Subjective Burden among parents of children with ADHD

“…In a study conducted among parents of persons with autism spectrum disorders (Bekhet, Johnson, & Zauszniewski, 2012), positive cognitions were identified as mediators between caregiving burden and resourcefulness (considered as an indicator of resilience). In a group of caregivers of older adults, the relationship between burden and resilience was mediated by perceived social support (Ong et al, 2018). Finally, a study involving parents of persons (aged 5-53), diagnosed with cognitive and neuromotor disorders, investigated resilience and life satisfaction (well-being indicators) and depression related emotions (an ill-being indicator) as predictors of caregivers' subjective burden (Fianco et al, 2015); life satisfaction and resilience emerged as significant predictors of burden; after accounting for their contributions, depression related emotions did not show any significant association with caregivers' subjective burden levels.…”

“…al, 2015). Impulsivity and inattention to social cues can lead children to experience rejection by peers, whereas difficulties in tasks requiring sustained attention often undermine their academic performance (Arnold, Hodgkins, Kahle, Madhoo, & Kewley, 2015;Daley & Birchwood, 2010;Faraone et al, 1993;Pastura, Mattos, & Araújo, 2009) and negatively affect their self-esteem (Edbom, Granlund, Lichtenstein, & Larsson, 2008;Mazzone et al, 2013). As concerns daily interactions, children with ADHD tend to disregard parents' ordinary requests and advice, fight with siblings and peers, disturb people in public spaces, and have difficulties in the relationship with teachers.…”

The Mediating Roles of Coping Styles and Resilience in the Relationship between Perceived Social Support and Posttraumatic Growth among Primary Caregivers of Schizophrenic Patients: A Cross-sectional Study

“…The mean score of resilience is 2.46 among primary caregivers of schizophrenic patients, which is close to the median of the 0-4 scoring range (median = 2.00), indicating a moderate degree of resilience. This score was lower than those collected from primary caregivers of older adults [28] and of injured service members [29]. Resilience is positively associated with and PTG in primary caregivers of schizophrenic patients, and resilience-oriented interventions should be employed to enhance their PTG.…”

Cursos de cuidadores de idosos: a clientela, o conteúdo e a qualificação

“…Entretanto, quatro cursos eram oferecidos a pessoas menores, sendo dois deles para alunos com 17 anos e outros dois para maiores de 16 anos. Segundo a legislação trabalhista brasileira, em seus artigos de número 401 a 441 (Consolidação das Leis do Trabalho), é proibido o trabalho do menor de 18 anos em condições perigosas ou insalubres, sendo que pode ser questionado o quanto algumas atividades do cuidado para com o idoso podem ser prejudiciais tanto ao físico, quando da necessidade de remoção de idoso com mobilidade comprometida, por exemplo, quanto ao psicológico, dado haver vários estudos que apontam o estresse do cuidador (Ong et al, 2018;Souza et al, 2015).…”