Social support and well-being in dementia family caregivers: the mediating role of self-efficacy.
OBJECTIVE
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.


METHODS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Au
Alma
A
Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kolwoon Hong Kong, China. ssalma@polyu.edu.hk
Lai
Man-Kin
MK
Lau
Kam-Mei
KM
Pan
Pey-Chyou
PC
Lam
Linda
L
Thompson
Larry
L
Gallagher-Thompson
Dolores
D
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003704:Dementia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012944:Social Support