Relationship of Perceived Social Support with Mental Health in Older Caregivers.

Laura Muñoz-Bermejo,Jorge Pérez-Gómez,Claudia Mara De Melo-Tavares,Jorge Carlos-Vivas,José Carmelo Adsuar,Salvador Postigo-Mota,Miguel Ángel Garcia-Gordillo,Inés Casado-Verdejo

doi:10.3390/ijerph17113886

Abstract

Background: Elderly caregivers present increased physical and mental health problems. These factors can lead to a lack of autonomy and a need for social support. This study aims to analyse the relationships between perceived social support and mental health status in elderly caregivers aged 65 and older. Methods: a cross-sectional study based on data from the Spanish National Health Survey (ENSE-17) carried out on 7023 people. The study population was restricted to 431 caregivers aged ≥65 years. A study of the correlation between the mental health state and the perceived social support was carried out. Both variables were related to the sex of the caregiver. Results: Perceived social support by older caregivers is significantly related to mental health (p = 0.001), and stress (p < 0.001). Also, there is a significant relationship between perceived social support and mental well-being (p = 0.001), self-esteem (p = 0.005) and stress (p = 0.001) in older women caregivers. Conclusions: Older caregivers have adequate mental well-being and perceive high social support. Perceived social support can contribute to improving the mental well-being of older caregivers.

Highlights

Population ageing represents one of the greatest challenges among the developments resulting from demographic change in Western societies
The main finding of our study is that perceived social support by older caregivers is related to mental health and stress levels
Older caregivers included in this study have high social support and good mental health

Summary

Introduction

Population ageing represents one of the greatest challenges among the developments resulting from demographic change in Western societies. Caregivers present increased physical and mental health problems These factors can lead to a lack of autonomy and a need for social support. This study aims to analyse the relationships between perceived social support and mental health status in elderly caregivers aged 65 and older. A study of the correlation between the mental health state and the perceived social support was carried out Both variables were related to the sex of the caregiver. Results: Perceived social support by older caregivers is significantly related to mental health (p = 0.001), and stress (p < 0.001). There is a significant relationship between perceived social support and mental well-being (p = 0.001), self-esteem (p = 0.005) and stress (p = 0.001) in older women caregivers

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