|
|||||
|
|
Social support and well-being in dementia family caregivers: The mediating role of self-efficacy |
|
| Authors: | Alma Au Man-Kin Lai Kam-Mei Lau Pey-Chyou Pan Linda Lam Larry Thompson |
| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Applied Social Sciences , The Hong Kong Polytechnic University , Hung Hom , Kolwoon Hong Kong , China;2. United Christian Hospital , Hong Kong , China;3. Department of Psychiatry , The Chinese University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong , China;4. Division of Endocrinology, Gerontology &5. Metabolism , Stanford University School of Medicine , 251 Campus Dr #Msob341, Stanford , CA 94305 , USA |
| Abstract: | Objectives: The study investigated self-efficacy as a possible mediator of the relationship between the social support and depressive symptoms of primarily informal caregivers, mainly family members, of patients with dementia in Hong Kong. Method: One hundred and thirty-four caregivers were interviewed. Path analyses were conducted using a self-efficacy scale that consists of three subscales assessing three domains of caregiving self-efficacy. Self-efficacy for obtaining respite, responding to disruptive patient behaviours, and controlling upsetting thoughts about caregiving were measured. Results: Results showed that self-efficacy acted as a partial mediator between social support and depressive symptoms of these caregivers. Conclusion: Findings suggest that self-efficacy may function as a mechanism through which social support influences depressive symptoms, and the importance of this self-efficacy mechanism can be domain-specific. |
| Keywords: | social support well-being dementia caregivers self-efficacy |