Does social support impact depression in caregivers of adults ageing with spinal cord injuries?

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the role of social support in predicting depression in caregivers of adults aging with spinal cord injuries. Design: Cross-sectional secondary data analyses were conducted for this study. Setting: Participants were recruited from multiple community locations in Pittsburgh, PA and Miami, FL. Subjects: Community-dwelling caregivers of aging adults with spinal cord injuries ( N = 173) were interviewed as part of a multisite randomized controlled trial. Main measures: The Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale measured caregiver depression symptom levels. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis examined the effect of social support (social integration, received social support, and negative social interactions) on depressive symptom levels for the caregivers of adults aging with spinal cord injuries, controlling for demographic characteristics, and caregiving characteristics. Results: Caregivers were, on average, 53 years old (SD = 15) and care-recipients were 55 years old (SD = 13). Average Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale scores indicated that 69 (40%) of caregivers had significant depressive symptoms (mean 8.69, SD = 5.5). Negative social interactions ([Formula: see text] = 0.27, P< 0.01) and social integration ([Formula: see text] = −0.25, P< 0.01) were significant independent predictors of depressive symptom levels in caregivers of adults aging with spinal cord injuries. Conclusions: Findings demonstrate that negative social interactions and social integration are associated with the burden in caregivers of adults aging with spinal cord injuries. Negative social interactions and social integration should be investigated in assessments and interventions intended to target caregiver depressive symptom levels.