Self-Efficacy Partially Mediates between Social Support and Health-Related Quality of Life in Family Caregivers for Dementia Patients in Shanghai

Abstract

Background: There is a paucity of research assessing health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and self-efficacy in caregivers of relatives with dementia in mainland China. Aims: To compare the level of HRQoL between caregivers and the general population in mainland China and to assess the role of caregiver self-efficacy in the relationship between caregiver social support and HRQoL. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Shanghai, China. The caregivers were recruited from the outpatient department of a teaching hospital. A total of 195 participants were interviewed, using a survey package including the Chinese version of the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), demographic data, the variables associated with the impairments of care recipients, perceived social support and caregiver self-efficacy. The caregivers' SF-36 scores were compared with those of the general population in China. Results: The results indicated that the HRQoL of the caregivers was poorer compared with that of the general population when matched for age and gender. Multiple regression analyses revealed that caregiver self-efficacy is a partial mediator between social support and HRQoL, and a partial mediator between behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) and caregiver mental health. Conclusion: Assisting with managing BPSD and enhancing caregiver self-efficacy can be considered integral parts of interventions to improve caregiver HRQoL.

Health-Related Quality of Life and Self-Efficacy of Managing Behavior Problems for Family Caregivers of Vascular Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease Patients

“…This result is consistent with reports stating that self-appraisal of self-efficacy predicts life satisfaction and less depression for family caregivers of patients with physical disability [31,32]. On the other hand, self-efficacy was reported to moderate the relationship between intervention condition and treatment outcome for family caregivers of patients with dementia [33], and to partially mediate the relationship between caregiver social support and HRQoL as well as that between behavioral problems and caregiver mental health [34]. Different roles of self-efficacy in predicting health outcomes for family caregivers of patients with VaD and AD need to be validated by future studies.…”

Factors related to the burden of family caregivers of elderly patients with spinal Tumours in Northwest China

“…To reduce caregiver burden, more social support from professional health care institutions and personnel is needed, such as the provision of appropriate information and support by medical staff and the strengthening of family care services for caregivers. Moreover, selfefficacy can reduce caregiver burden [24,25], lead to more positive emotions and contribute to better physical health [26,27]. Our previous studies have also confirmed that self-efficacy reduces the burden of care for caregivers and leads to more positive emotions and better physical health [10].…”

Caregivers of patients with disorder of consciousness: burden, quality of life and social support

“…Social support may greatly impact on caregivers' QoL, but most of the studies focus on caregivers of patients with neurological diseases such as dementia (27,28). In addition, when this dimension is taken into account with caregivers of patients with DOC (10)(11)(12), no specific assessment instruments have been used and there are no studies specifically aimed at assessing perceived social support in informal caregivers of patients with DOC.…”