title: Social support and depressive symptoms among caregivers of veterans with multiple sclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The primary aim of this study was to examine the relationship between perceived social support and depressive symptoms among family caregivers of veterans with multiple sclerosis (MS). A secondary aim of this study was to examine the relationship between caregiver perceived social support and caregiver demographic variables, veteran health-related variables, and caregiver depressive symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  As part of a larger study, 42 family caregivers of veterans with MS completed questionnaires by telephone. Hierarchical regression was used to examine the relationship between caregiver depressive symptoms and perceived social support.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Greater MS disease severity and poorer overall veteran health were associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms among caregivers. Caregiver perceived social support was associated with depressive symptoms after controlling for veterans' MS disease severity and overall physical health.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Psychosocial interventions aimed at enhancing social support among caregivers of veterans with MS in multiple life domains, such as work, finances, housing, social life, marriage, and family, may be important for family caregiver mood management, particularly as MS disease severity increases.
authors.affiliation: VA Puget Sound Health Care System.
authors.forename: Jennifer K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Bambara
authors.affiliation: VA Puget Sound Health Care System.
authors.forename: Aaron P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.affiliation: VA Puget Sound Health Care System.
authors.forename: Rhonda M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: VA Puget Sound Health Care System.
authors.forename: Jodie K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Haselkorn
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014728:Veterans