The Role of Perceived Social Support on Stress, Anxiety, Depression and Care Burden Levels of Caregivers of Cancer Patients: A Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Example.

Abstract

The current study investigated the role of perceived social support in the relationship between stress, depression, anxiety, and caregiving burden on caregivers of cancer patients. The research was conducted in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. In this sense, the situation in a region that is not often subject to research is reflected in the literature. In the current study, data from 93 caregivers were examined. 61.6% of the participants are women and the mean age of the participants is 40.82. Sociodemographic Information Form, Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, Depression Anxiety Stress Scale were used as measurement tools. Caregivers' depression and anxiety levels were found to be normal, and their stress levels were found to be mild. Caregiving burden, depression, anxiety, stress, and perceived social support were found to be interrelated variables. Six models of the role of perceived social support were tested. The analysis results showed that perceived social support had a mediating role, but not a moderating role, in the relationships between stress and caregiving burden, depression and anxiety. This finding, which is not frequently encountered in the related literature, was discussed with the related literature and suggestions for future studies were presented in the light of the findings.