Social Problem-Solving Inventory Research Articles

Social problem-solving, coping strategies and communication among 5th and 7th graders

ABSTRACT The aim of the study is to explore the characteristics of social problem-solving, coping strategies and assertive communication among 5th- and 7th-grade students (N = 378). Communication is assessed with the Assertiveness Questionnaire (AQ, Gaumer Erickson et al., 2016), social problem-solving with the Social Problem-Solving Inventory – Revised (SPSI – R, D’Zurilla et al., 2002) and coping strategies with the Ways of Coping Questionnaire (WCQ, Lazarus & Folkman, 1988). The results show that mostly significant differences can be found between pre-adolescents and early adolescents in the three social fields. Low belief in problem-solving is more common among older students, and – besides the age difference – there are a number of areas where boys and girls differ, even among younger students. The SEM clearly identifies strong links between communication, coping strategies and problem solving. The results provide a more nuanced picture of boys’ social problem-solving, coping strategies and communication and the relation between them than before.

Entrapment and social problem-solving in suicidal behavior across the adult lifespan

BackgroundFeelings of entrapment and deficits in social problem-solving skills have been associated with risk for suicidal behavior in the context of depression. However, few studies have examined the effect of age on the association between these risk factors and suicidal behavior across most of the adult lifespan. MethodsIn a three-site study, we tested interactions of age with feelings of entrapment and social problem-solving style in 105 depressed patients with a recent suicide attempt, 95 depressed patients with no history of suicide attempt, and 97 demographically similar non-psychiatric participants (age 16–80). Attempter/non-attempter differences, age interactions, and the relative contribution of entrapment and social problem-solving style to past attempter were examined. ResultsEntrapment significantly interacted with age such that it discriminated past attempters from depressed non-attempters better at older ages. Social Problem-Solving Inventory (SPSI) total score and most subscales did not distinguish past attempters, but the SPSI Impulsive Style Problem-Solving was an effective discriminator of past suicide attempts across the full adult lifespan and did not interact with age. In a multipredictor model, both the entrapment by age interaction and SPSI Impulsive Style Problem-Solving score were significant predictors for the classification of attempters. LimitationsThe cross-sectional nature of our research design limited conclusions that may be drawn about individual change over time or cohort effects. ConclusionsEntrapment did not distinguish past attempters at younger ages but became a better discriminator in middle to late adulthood. An impulsive problem-solving style was associated with past suicide attempts across the full adult lifespan.

Gender differences in empathy, emotional intelligence and problem-solving ability among nursing students: A cross-sectional study

BackgroundEmpathy, emotional intelligence (EI) and problem-solving ability are three important characteristics that influence effective communication in clinical practice. Previous studies have not adequately explored the specific relationships between these three abilities and their gender differences among nursing students. ObjectiveWe sought to investigate the current state of emotional intelligence, empathy, and problem-solving ability in nursing students and to identify whether gender differences affect these three characteristics and how gender differences can be used to educate nurses on empathy. DesignWe conducted a cross-sectional survey. ParticipantsA total of 993 nursing students from two grade A tertiary hospitals in Hunan, China participated in this study. MethodsData were collected using the Empathy of Clinical Nurse Scale (ENCS), Emotional Intelligence Scale of Clinical Junior Nurses (EIS) and Social Problem-Solving Inventory (SPSI). Data were analyzed using an independent samples t-test, Pearson correlation and hierarchical multiple linear regression. ResultsThere was no significant difference in the ENCS and SPSI scores between male and female nursing students, but male nursing students had lower EIS scores (P < 0.05). A significant association was found between ENCS, EIS and SPSI on most dimensions among female nursing students, but no significant association was found between ENCS and EIS for total scores among males. We found that problem-solving ability was the most important factor affecting the variation in empathy for both male and female nursing students through hierarchical multiple regression analysis. ConclusionsGender differences are reflected not only in the level of emotional intelligence but also in the relationships between emotional intelligence, empathy, and problem-solving ability. Nursing educators should be aware of how gender differences can affect these three traits; this is particularly important for teaching based on students' aptitudes.

Abstract 11156: Over Time, Heart Failure Symptoms Worsen Depression

Introduction: Heart failure (HF) is a global health problem, contributing to increases in hospital readmission rates, high health care costs, and increased morbidity and mortality. HF symptoms can be difficult to manage and lead to depression. Purpose: To examine the impact of a nurse-led, telephone, coping intervention and HF symptoms on depression in patients with HF. Methods: A 3-group randomized controlled pilot study was conducted with 107 HF patients to test the effectiveness of a 12-week telephone-based coping intervention for HF symptoms. The intervention group (n = 34) received 1 home visit, weekly (1st month), and biweekly (months 2-3) telephone calls. The attention group (n = 38) received sham calls on a similar pattern as the intervention group. All groups received usual care, with the control group (n = 35) receiving usual care only. HF patients were 61 years old, on average; 54.2% male; 54.2% African American; and 43.9% NYHA II. Data were collected at baseline, 5, 9, and 13 weeks on social support (Interpersonal Support Evaluation List), problem-solving (Social Problem-Solving Inventory Revised-Short), HF symptoms (Heart Failure Symptom Survey), and depression (Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale). Linear mixed modeling was implemented to examine the effect of the intervention and HF symptoms on depression over time, controlling for social support and problem-solving. Results: Sixty-four patients completed the study (18 intervention; 24 attention; 22 control). No significant between-group differences in sociodemographic characteristics, HF symptoms, or depression was noted at baseline. There was no significant intervention effect over time on depression. However, experiencing HF symptoms over time contributed to worse depression across all groups. Conclusions: Experiencing HF symptoms can lead to worsened depression over time. Interventions that improve self-management of HF symptoms can potentially be effective in reducing depression in HF patients.

A network analysis of social problem-solving and anxiety/depression in adolescents.

Social problem-solving (SPS) involves the cognitive-behavioral processes through which an individual identifies and copes with everyday problems; it is considered to contribute to anxiety and depression. The Social Problem-Solving Inventory Revised is a popular tool measuring SPS problem orientations and problem-solving styles. Only a negative problem orientation (NPO) is considered strongly related to anxiety and depression. In the present study, we investigated the detailed connections among the five components of SPS and 14 anxiety-depression symptoms and specified the role of NPO and other components in the anxiety-depression network. We employed network analysis, constructed circular and multi-dimensional scaling (MDS) networks, and calculated the network centrality, bridge centrality, and stability of centrality indices. The results were as follows: (1) the MDS network showed a clustering of anxiety and depression symptoms, with NPO and avoidance style components from SPS being close to the anxiety-depression network (demonstrated by large bridge betweenness and bridge closeness); (2) the NPO and positive problem orientation from SPS were most influential on the whole network, though with an opposite effect; (3) strength was the most stable index [correlation stability (CS) coefficient = 0.516] among the centrality indices with case-dropping bootstraps. We also discussed this network from various perspectives and commented on the clinical implications and limitations of this study.

The Influence of Smartphone Addiction, Personality Traits, Achievement Motivation on Problem-solving Ability of University Students

This study aimed to analyze the relations between smartphone addiction, personality traits, achievement motivation and problem-solving ability and explore the influence of smartphone addiction, personality traits, achievement motivation on university students' problem-solving ability. 682 students (male = 227, female = 455) from a Chinese public university participated in the research voluntarily. Data were collected by the short-version of the smartphone addiction scale, the ten-item personality inventory, the achievement motives scale, and the social problem-solving inventory. The correlations and multiple hierarchical regression analysis were used to analyze the data. The results were as follows: Firstly, it was found that there was a significant negative correlation between smartphone addiction and achievement motivation and problem-solving ability, a significant positive correlation between achievement motivation and problem-solving ability, and a significant correlation between the factors of personality traits and smartphone addiction and problem-solving ability respectively. Secondly, it was found that emotional stability of personality traits, smartphone addiction and the "fear of failure" sub-dimensions of achievement motivation significantly explained problem-solving ability. Based on these research results, some suggestions were given for the improvement of the educational field.

The Investigation of University Students Social Problem-solving Skills in Terms of Perceived Parental Attitudes and Cognitive Flexibility Levels

The aim of this study is to determine whether social problem-solving skills and perceived parental attitudes and cognitive flexibility levels differ according to gender, to examine the relationships between these variables and to determine the level of predicting the social problem-solving skill of university students by parental attitude and cognitive flexibility. For this purpose, data was obtained by applying Personal Information Form, Social Problem-solving Inventory-Short Form (SPÇE-KF), Parental Attitude Scale (ABTÖ), Cognitive Flexibility Inventory (BEE) to 574 university students. For statistical analysis, Independent Groups T Test, the Pearson Product-Moments Correlation Analysis, Multiple Hierarchical Regression Analysis were used. According to the results of the study, it was seen that the negative orientation to the problem, democratic, protective and authoritarian parental attitude mean scores were significantly different by gender. Significant correlations were found between the total scores from the Social Problem-solving Inventory and the predictive variables Parental Attitude Scale sub-dimensions and the Cognitive Flexibility Inventory sub-dimensions. Democratic parental attitude, authoritarian parental attitude, cognitive flexibility sub-dimensions which are alternatives and control are significant predictors of social problem-solving total score. Independent variables explain 46% of the total variance related to social problem-solving inventory total score.

An improvement in ability of adolescent drug users to solve problems through problem-solving therapy

This study aims to determine the effect of problem-solving therapy (PST) on the ability to solve problems and relapse risk in adolescent drug users. This study used the quasi-experimental pre-post test without the control method with PST as an intervention. The study was conducted on 30 adolescent drug users in RSKO Jakarta, RSMM, and BNN Lido. Data retrieval was carried out from March to May 2019. The instrument was used by the Revised Social Problem-Solving Inventory (SPSI-R). Data were analyzed using central tendency, Paired T-test, and Repeated Anova. The problem-solving ability has increased after the adolescent drug users receive PST. PST can increase the use of PPO and decrease the use of IC habit as well as AS in problem-solving. PST can be an alternative in improving the quality of mental nursing care, especially for addiction nursing.

Social problem-solving, life satisfaction and well-being among high school and university students

ABSTRACT Students face several challenges when transitioning to a new school level. This necessitates an exploration of the personal features supporting their adjustment, which may provide valuable insights for intervention programs and counseling services at institutions. We employed a sample of 9th- to 10th-grade high school students (N = 255) and 1st- to 2nd-year university students (N = 320) and adopted a longitudinal design to examine the relation between their social problem-solving, life satisfaction and school well-being and how they change in a new institutional environment during the first year. The participants answered the Hungarian version of the Social Problem-Solving Inventory–Revised, the Negative Problem Orientation Questionnaire, the Satisfaction with Life Scale and the School Well-being Questionnaire. The results revealed a similar pattern in social problem-solving and negative problem orientation among high school and university students. Positive problem orientation decreased while negative problem orientation and avoidance increased. Negative orientation toward social problems significantly affected life satisfaction and well-being in school. This study then discussed the implications of these findings for interventions supporting students’ social problem-solving and well-being.

A quasi-experimental study of specialized training on the clinical decision-making skills and social problem-solving abilities of nursing students

Background: In Asian countries, clinical practice places little emphasis on developing the clinical decision-making skills and social problem-solving abilities of nursing students. Objective: This study explored whether a 3-months-in-1-unit training program improved nursing students' clinical decision-making skills and social problem-solving abilities compared to the 1-month-in-1-unit rotation program. Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted. A 3-months-in-1-unit training program was conducted in the intervention group (n = 77), rountine1-month-in-1-unit rotation was conducted in the control group (n = 73). Clinical decision-making skills and problem-solving abilities were measured using the Chinese version of the Clinical Decision-Making Nursing Scale and the Social Problem-Solving Inventory–Revised. Results: Nursing students in the intervention group scored higher clinical decision-making skills (t = 7.677, p < 0.05), positive problem orientation (t = 18.359, p < 0.05), negative problem orientation (t = −3.711, p < 0.05), and rational problem-solving (t = 2.312, p < 0.05) than the control group. Conclusions: The 3-months-in-1-unit specialized training program had a significant positive impact on students’ clinical decision-making skills and social problem-solving abilities.

Problem-solving training for Veterans in home based primary care: an evaluation of intervention effectiveness.

Veterans enrolled in Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Home Based Primary Care (HBPC), a program providing in-home medical and mental health care by an interdisciplinary care team, often face substantial physical, cognitive, and mental health challenges. This program evaluation examined the impact of a brief problem-solving intervention on depressive symptoms, quality of life, and problem-solving abilities for Veterans enrolled in HBPC. Pre- and post-intervention outcomes for Veterans, and qualitative feedback from Veterans and clinicians regarding program satisfaction. A total of 230 HBPC patients (mean age in years = 72.1, SD = 11.6) within the U.S. national VHA health care system. Six-session, individual Problem-Solving Training (PST-HBPC). Licensed psychologists and social workers (n = 115) completed training and administered the treatment with HBPC Veterans between 2014 and 2017. From baseline to post-intervention, Veterans completing five or more PST-HBPC sessions (n = 199) reported significant reductions in depressive symptoms on the Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item (PHQ-9), in difficulty functioning due to depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 item 10), and in thoughts of death (PHQ-9 item 9). They also reported more effective problem-solving on the Social Problem-Solving Inventory - Revised: Short form (total score and subscales), and improved quality of life across life domains on the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) scale. Both clinicians and Veterans also reported satisfaction with the program. Preliminary findings support the continued dissemination and implementation of this brief PST intervention for HBPC Veterans, and its potential for use with non-VA home care populations with complex comorbidities.

Social Media Addiction among Turkish Young Adults Is Partially Mediated by Automatic Thoughts and Social Problem-Solving Skills.

This study aimed to reveal a process model of the relations between automatic thoughts, dysfunctional attitudes, social problem-solving skills, and social media addiction. In this context, the aim was to investigate the mediating effect of automatic thoughts and social problem-solving skills in the relationship between intermediate beliefs and social media addiction. This study included 56 male and 107 female young adults aged 18-25 years who were referred to the psychiatry outpatient clinic of Yenimahalle Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. The participants completed sociodemographic data form, social problem-solving inventory revised form, social media addiction scale, dysfunctional attitudes scale short form, and automatic thoughts questionnaire. In the data analysis, the effect and mediation were tested by the process method. Dysfunctional attitudes positively affected social media addiction and automatic thoughts and negatively affected social problem solving. According to this, the effect of dysfunctional attitudes on social media addiction was mediated by automatic thoughts and social problem solving. In this sense, both cognitive and behavioral processes can be useful in the treatment of social media addiction, and cognitive behavioral therapies can be an effective option.

The BEACON study: protocol for a cohort study as part of an evaluation of the effectiveness of smartphone-assisted problem-solving therapy in men who present with intentional self-harm to emergency departments in Ontario

BackgroundPatients who present to emergency departments after intentional self-harm are at an increased risk of dying by suicide. This applies particularly to men, who represent nearly two-thirds of those who die by suicide in Ontario. One way of potentially addressing this gap is to offer a course of blended problem-solving therapy, comprised of a brief course of evidence-based psychotherapy for individuals at risk for suicide, facilitated by the use of a patient-facing smartphone application and a clinician-facing “dashboard.” This approach has the potential to combine the benefits of face-to-face therapy and technology to create a novel intervention.MethodsThis is a cohort study nested within a larger pragmatic multicentre pre- and post-design cluster randomised trial. Suicidal ideation assessed by the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation is the primary outcome variable. Secondary outcome measures include depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale), post-traumatic stress disorder (Primary Care PTSD Screen), health-related quality of life (EuroQol 5-dimension 5-level questionnaire), meaning in life (Experienced Meaning in Life Scale), perceived social supports (Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support), alcohol use (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test), drug use (Drug Abuse Screening Test Short Form 10), problem-solving skills (Social Problem-Solving Inventory–Revised Short Form), and self-reported healthcare costs, as well as health service use measured using Ontario administrative health data. A process evaluation will also be conducted following study completion.DiscussionThe cohort study will test whether better adherence to the intervention results in better outcomes. The value of the cohort study design is that we can examine in more detail certain subgroups or other variables that are not available in the larger cluster randomised trial. This trial will aim to improve standards by informing best practice in management of men who self-harm and present to hospitals in Ontario.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03473535. Registered on March 22, 2018.

Do anxiety, depression, and intolerance of uncertainty contribute to social problem solving in adult women with anorexia nervosa?

IntroductionInefficient problem solving in the social domain may be one of the difficulties underlying the interpersonal challenges thought to maintain anorexia nervosa (AN). However, past studies have neglected to control for depression, anxiety, and intolerance of uncertainty (IU), which are known to contribute to social problem solving.MethodsThis study aimed to investigate whether adults with AN would show differences in social problem solving on an experimental task (Means‐End Problem Solving; MEPS) and report differences in their attitudes (positive, negative) toward social problem solving and their use of social problem‐solving styles (rational, impulsive–careless, avoidant) on the Social Problem‐Solving Inventory Revised (SPSRI) compared to a non‐AN control group.ResultsSeventy‐four adult women took part (30 with AN and 44 non‐AN controls), and data show that those with AN generated significantly less effective solutions on the MEPS (d = 1.96) reported overall poorer social problem solving on the SPSRI (d = 0.58), reporting more negative and less positive attitudes toward social problem solving, and less impulsive and more avoidant social problem‐solving styles. However, those with AN did not differ from controls in being able to rationalize social problems. Once depression (Beck Depression Inventory: BDI), state anxiety (State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory: STAI), and IU (Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale‐12; IUS‐12) were included as covariates, these differences were no longer significant, suggesting that comorbid depression, anxiety, and IU symptoms may contribute to social problem solving in AN.ConclusionsThere was no specific effect of depression. Treating anxiety and IU might help to improve social problem solving and enable people with AN to be able to better access social support to aid their recovery.

Longitudinal Patterns of Social Problem-Solving Skills in an Ethnically Diverse Sample of Pediatric Patients with Cancer and their Caregivers.

Pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and lymphoblastic lymphoma are prescribed a daily oral chemotherapy medication named 6-mercaptopurine. Adherence to this medication is vital for survival and decreased risk for disease relapse. Adaptive problem-solving strategies are important for adhering to this complex regimen. This manuscript examined ethnic and racial differences in social problem-solving domains (Social Problem-Solving Inventory) among patients aged 7–19 years old who were diagnosed with cancer; and, their caregivers (N = 139). This was a 15-month longitudinal study. We also examined differences in medication adherence based on behavioral adherence measures. Our study found significant differences between minority and non-minority reporters across multiple social problem-solving domains (p < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences observed for medication adherence. Our findings underscore the importance of implementing culturally sensitive interventions in clinical care that could ultimately positively impact health behaviors, interactions with healthcare providers, and long-term health outcomes.

Effects of solution-focused brief therapy in clinical nurses

Objective To explore the effect of solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT) method on the psychological resilience of clinical nurses. Methods By convenience sampling, 80 nurses from internal medicine department in a ClassⅢ hospital in Shanghai who volunteered to participate in the research were enrolled in the study and divided into control group (n=40) and intervention group (n=40) according to random number table. Routine professional training was adopted in the control group. The SFBT techniques was adopted in the intervention group, group psychological training was carried out once a week for four weeks. The Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) , Chinese Version of the Social Problem-Solving Inventory (C-SPSI) , Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire (SCSQ) were used before the first intervention, the last intervention, and one month after intervention in the assessment. Results After intervention, the total scores of CD-RISC and each dimensions, C-SPSI and each dimensions, and coping tendency in SCSQ in the intervention group were higher than those in the control group with statistical significance (P<0.05) . The total scores of CD-RISC of nurses in the two groups were influenced by time and grouping, the interactive effect was significant (P<0.05) . The total scores of CD-RISC and dimensions of nurses in intervention group were higher than those before intervention, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05) . Conclusions SFBT group psychological training for clinical nurses can significantly improve the level of psychological resilience of nurses, and has the same effect on nurses' problem-solving ability and positive coping and is worth popularizing. Key words: Nurses; Psychological resilience; Coping style; Solution-focused brief therapy; Problem-solving

Impact of self-directed learning readiness and learning attitude on problem-solving ability among Chinese undergraduate nursing students

Abstract Objective To explore the effects of self-directed learning readiness and learning attitude on problem-solving ability among Chinese undergraduate nursing students. Methods A convenience sampling of 460 undergraduate nursing students was surveyed in Tianjin, China. Students who participated in the study completed a questionnaire that included social demographic questionnaire, Self-directed Learning Readiness Scale, Attitude to Learning Scale, and Social Problem-Solving Inventory. Pearson’s correlation analysis was performed to test the correlations among problem-solving ability, self-directed learning readiness, and learning attitude. Hierarchical linear regression analyses were performed to explore the mediating role of learning attitude. Results The results showed that learning attitude (r=0.338, P&lt;0.01) and self-directed learning readiness (r=0.493, P&lt;0.01) were positively correlated with problem-solving ability. Learning attitude played a partial intermediary role between self-directed learning readiness and problem-solving ability (F=74.227, P&lt;0.01). Conclusions It is concluded that nursing educators should pay attention on students’ individual differences and take proper actions to inspire students’ self-directed learning readiness and learning attitude.

Középiskolások és egyetemisták szociálisprobléma-megoldásának nem szerinti különbségei

A longitudinális kutatás célja a szociálisprobléma-megoldás elsősorban nem szerinti jellemzőinek és különbségeinek vizsgálata volt 9–10. évfolyamos középiskolások és 1–2. éves egyetemisták körében. E különbségek mellett elemeztük az életkori sajátosságokat és azok változásait is. A problémamegoldás jellemzőinek mérésére az SPSI–R-t (Social Problem-Solving Inventory–Revised, D’Zurilla et al., 2004; Kasik et al., 2010) és a NEGORI-t (Negatív problémaorientáció, Kasik et al., 2018) alkalmaztuk. Mindkét mérőeszköz – akárcsak a korábbi elemzések során – e kutatásban is jó megbízhatósági mutatókkal rendelkezett. A szociálisprobléma-megoldás életkori változása jól tükrözi a korábbi hazai és nemzetközi kutatások tapasztalatait. A diákok körében nőtt a negatív viszonyulás és az elkerülés, míg az egyetemistáknál nincs jelentős változás. A negatív orientáció részletesebb (NEGORI-val történő) elemzése alátámasztotta az SPSI–R által mutatott változásokat a középiskolások esetében, ám az egyetemistáknál nem. A lányok és a fiúk között több területen van eltérés, mint a férfi és a női hallgatók között, utóbbiaknál az eltérések kevésbé stabilak. További kutatások szükségesek ahhoz, hogy a feltételezett környezeti hatástól függő változásról pontosabb képet tudjunk alkotni.

Structural Validity of the Social Problem-Solving Inventory-Revised Short Form: Application to Brooding and Reflection.

Research on social problem-solving ability or the cognitive-behavioral processes used to find successful solutions to everyday problems has been advanced by the availability of easy-to-administer self-report measures. The goal of the current study is twofold: (a) validate the factor structure of the Social Problem-Solving Inventory-Revised: Short Form (SPSI-R:S) and (b) examine the relationship between depressive rumination subtypes and dimensions of social problem solving. An initial confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) in Sample 1 revealed poor model fit. An exploratory factor analysis revealed that several items cross-loaded on more than one factor. These items were removed and a subsequent CFA demonstrated adequate model. The revised model was validated in a second sample and convergent and divergent validity were examined. Brooding was related to more maladaptive problem-solving ability while reflection was generally associated with a more adaptive problem-solving style. No gender differences were found.

Psychosocial Factors Related to Adverse Outcomes in Caregivers of Heart Failure Patients: A Structural Equation Modeling Analysis

Background HF caregivers often experience caregiving burden, impacting their physical and psychological well-being. Social support and social problem-solving, as coping resources, may influence the effect of caregiving burden on self-care, depressive symptoms, and quality of life. Yet, studies examining these coping resources on HF caregiver outcomes are lacking. Purpose To investigate whether social support and social problem-solving mediate the relationships among caregiving burden, self-care, depressive symptoms, and quality of life in HF caregivers. Methods Using a descriptive, cross-sectional, correlational design, HF caregivers (n=530) completed online surveys, including the Dutch Objective Burden Inventory, the Interpersonal Support Evaluation List-12, the Social Problem-Solving Inventory Revised-Short, the Center for Epidemiological Studies - Depression scale, the Denyes Self-care Practice Instrument, and the Bakas Caregiving Outcomes Scale. Path analytic methods were used to examine a hypothesized mediating role of social support and social problem solving in the relationships between caregiving burden and caregiver self-care, depressive symptoms, and quality of life. The analysis proceeded in two phases: 1) a model-development phase with ∼62% of the sample (n=329) used to make data-based decisions on measurement indicators and structure of the path model; and 2) a confirmatory phase with ∼38% of the sample (n=201) used to provide unbiased inference on the model structure resulting from the initial phase. Results Participants were 41.39 (± 10.38) years old, Caucasian (78.3%), men (50.9%) caring for their spouse with HF (44.9%). Perceived caregiver burden was a predictor of caregiver social support (standardized effect B= -.4), self-care (Total B= -.39), depressive symptoms (Total B= .45), and quality of life (Total B= -.33). Higher level of caregiver burden was associated with less social support, worse self-care, more depression and decreased quality of life. Social support mediated the relationship between caregiving burden and depression (56% of Total effect), but did not appear to relevantly mediate the relationship between caregiving burden and self-care (11% of Total effect) or quality of life (0% of Total effect). When considered simultaneously with social support, social problem-solving was not a relevant mediator between caregiving burden and outcomes. Conclusions Caregiving burden negatively impacts caregiver outcomes. Social support appears more beneficial in mediating the effects of caregiving burden on depression, but has little mediational effect on caregiver self-care or quality of life.