Factor Analysis Affecting Degree of Depression in Family Caregivers of Patients with Spinal Cord Injury: A Cross-Sectional Pilot Study

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the degree of depression in family caregivers of spinal-cord-injury patients and to identify factors influencing family caregivers’ depression. The final study subjects were 30 (family caregivers: 6 males and 24 females). The CES-D of family caregivers; general characteristics of spinal-cord-injury patients and family caregivers; and information on physical health, household income, leisure, social activity, family relationship, and life-in-general status of family caregiver were collected. A frequency analysis, normality test, Mann–Whitney test, Kruskal–Wallis test, Spearman Correlation analysis, hierarchical regression analysis, and spider network through a path model analysis were performed. As for the general characteristics, when the patient was economically active, the caregiver’s depression was mean ± SD; 2.04 ± 0.71; otherwise, it was mean ± SD 2.86 ± 0.74, indicating that the caregiver of the non-economic activity patient was more depressed (p = 0.013). In Model 1 of the multiple regression analysis to understand the effect on the depression of the caregiver, it was confirmed that the depression of the caregiver decreased as the family caregiver had more leisure and social activities (B = −0.718, p = 0.001). In Model 2, it was found that the depression of caregivers increased when the patient did not engage in economic activity (B = 0.438, p = 0.016). In the spider-web form through the path model analysis, as the family’s economic level increased, physical health increased by B = 0.755 (p < 0.001), and the increase in physical health (B = 0.424, p = 0.042) was, in turn, a factor in the increase of engagement in leisure and social activities. Various policies will be needed for the successful return to society of spinal-cord-injury patients by ensuring that their leisure and social activities and establishing measures to support their economical income.