Social Support as a Mediator of Depression in Caregivers of Patients With End-Stage Disease

Caregivers of patients with advanced cancer are at high risk to experience depression, which, in turn, may affect the caregiver's ability to care for the patient. The objective of this study was to examine the role of social support as a mediating factor between caregiver demands and caregiver depression. This descriptive, cross-sectional study analyzed findings from questionnaires completed by caregivers of patients with advanced cancer. The participants included 164 spousal caregivers of patients with advanced lung cancer. A series of regression analyses was conducted to determine mediating effects of social support. Based on the analyses, social support was found to partially mediate the relationship between caregiver demands and caregiver depression (R-2 = 0.498 and P <= .001; R-2 = 0.322 and P <= .001). The findings of this study indicate that social support can be a mediating factor between caregiver demands and caregiver depression and suggest that clinicians consider the importance of understanding and using caregiver support systems.