The impact of caregiving burden and perceived social support on psychosomatic symptoms among informal caregivers of patients with dementia
The informal care providers of individuals with dementia often encounter various challenges, including physical, emotional, and financial difficulties, due to the complex nature of the illness. Chronic stress frequently results in physical manifestations, such as psychosomatic symptoms. In light of the caregiving burden, researchers are increasingly focused on assisting caregivers in alleviating this burden. The current study aimed to understand the impact of caregiving burden and perceived social support on psychosomatic symptoms. Three instruments, along with a demographic sheet, were utilized to collect data. SPSS software was employed for descriptive statistical computation, correlational analysis, and regression analysis. The findings from the correlational analysis indicated that caregiving burden has a significant positive correlation with psychosomatic symptoms, whereas perceived social support shows a significant negative correlation with both caregiving burden and psychosomatic symptoms. Furthermore, caregiving burden is a significant positive predictor, while perceived social support is a significant negative predictor of psychosomatic symptoms. The overall model accounted for a substantial portion of the variance in psychosomatic symptom severity. These results provide direct evidence to guide the development of targeted support interventions aimed at alleviating caregiving burden and enhancing perceived social support.
- Tran TA, Mattap SM, Warren N, et al. Caregiver burden among dementia caregivers in low-and middle-income countries in Asia: A systematic review. Aging Ment Health. 2025:29(4):578-590. doi: 10.1080/13607863.2025.2462110
- Donelan K, Hill CA, Hoffman C, et al. Challenged to care: Informal caregivers in a changing health system. Health Aff (Millwood). 2002;21(4):222-231. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.21.4.222
- Suksatan W, Tankumpuan T, Davidson PM. Heart failure caregiver burden and outcomes: A systematic review. Pac Rim Int J Nurs Res. 2022;26(3):304-317. doi: 10.1177/21501319221112584
- Zarit SH, Zarit JM. The Memory and Behavior Problems Checklist and the Burden Interview. United States: Gerontology Center, The Pennsylvania State University; 1990.
- Cham CQ, Ibrahim N, Siau CS, et al. Caregiver burden among caregivers of patients with mental illness: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Healthcare (Basel). 2022;10(12):2423. doi: 10.3390/healthcare10122423
- Fertelli TK. The Relationship between caregivers’ burden of care and psychological well-being levels of heart failure patients. Int J Caring Sci. 2023;16(2):563-571.
- Alzheimer’s Association. 2024 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures. Alzheimer’s Association; 2024. Available from: https://www.alz.org/getmedia/76e51bb6-c003-4d84-8019-e0779d8c4e8d/ alzheimers-facts-and-figures. pdf [Last accessed on 2025 Oct 22].
- Alzheimer’s Disease International. World Alzheimer Report 2024. Alzheimer’s Disease International; 2024. Available from: https://www.alzint.org/resource/world-alzheimer-report-2024
- Beri V. The mediating role of death obsessions in the relationship between caregiver burden and somatic symptoms: A study on the informal dementia caregivers in India. Omega. 2024;89(3):1010-1025. doi: 10.1177/00302228221090757
- Feizollahi Z, Asadzadeh H, Bakhtiarpour S, Farrokhi N. The mediating role of self-compassion in the correlation between perceived social support and psychosomatic symptoms among students with gender as the moderator. J Health Rep Technol. 2022;8(2):e119542. doi: 10.5812/ijhls.119542
- Son J, Erno A, Shea DG, Femia EE, Zarit SH, Parris Stephens MA. The caregiver stress process and health outcomes. J Aging Health. 2007;19(6):871-887. doi: 10.1177/0898264307308568
- Leggett A, Polenick CA, Maust DT, Kales HC. What hath night to do with sleep? The caregiving context and dementia caregivers’ night time awakenings. Clin Gerontol. 2018;41(2):158-166. doi: 10.1080/07317115.2017.1352057
- Crettaz B, Marziniak M, Willeke P, et al. Stress-induced allodynia – evidence of increased pain sensitivity in healthy humans and patients with chronic pain after experimentally induced psychosocial stress. PLoS One. 2013;8(8):e69460. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0069460
- Acoba EF. Social support and mental health: the mediating role of perceived stress. Front Psychol. 2024;15:1330720. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1330720
- Chiou CJ, Chang HY, Chen IP, Wang HH. Social support and caregiving circumstances as predictors of caregiver burden in Taiwan. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2009;48(3):419-424. doi: 10.1016/j.archger.2008.04.001
- Akosile CO, Banjo TO, Okoye EC, Ibikunle PO, Odole AC. Informal caregiving burden and perceived social support in an acute stroke care facility. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2018;16(1):63. doi: 10.1186/s12955-018-0885-z
- Del-Pino-Casado R, Frías-Osuna A, Palomino-Moral PA, Ruzafa-Martínez M, Ramos-Morcillo AJ. Social support and subjective burden in caregivers of adults and older adults: A meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2018;13(1):e0189874. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0189874
- Nemcikova M, Katreniakova Z, Nagyova I. Social support, positive caregiving experience, and caregiver burden in informal caregivers of older adults with dementia. Front Public Health. 2023;11:1104250. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1104250
- Lazarus RS, Folkman S. Stress, Appraisal, and Coping. Germany: Springer; 1984.
- Grigaitytė I, Söderberg P. Why does perceived social support protect against somatic symptoms: Investigating the roles of emotional self-efficacy and depressive symptoms? Nord Psychol. 2021;73(3):226-241. doi: 10.1080/19012276.2021.1902845
- Zarit SH, Reever KE, Bach-Peterson J. Relatives of the impaired elderly: Correlates of feelings of burden. Gerontologist. 1980;20(6):649-655. doi: 10.1093/geront/20.6.649
- Zimet GD, Dahlem NW, Zimet SG, Farley GK. The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. J Pers Assess. 1988;52(1):30-41. doi: 10.1207/s15327752jpa5201_2
- Verma AK, Singh Y. Indian Adaptation of Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support in Hindi (MSPSS-Hindi). Paper presented at: National Seminar on Health and Wellbeing: Reflecting on Dominant Practices and Emerging Challenges. Delhi, India: University of Delhi; 2020. https:// zenodo.org/records/6914661
- Kroenke K, Spitzer RL, Williams JBW. The PHQ-15: Validity of a new measure for evaluating the severity of somatic symptoms. Psychosom Med. 2002;64(2):258-266. doi: 10.1097/00006842-200203000-00008
- Hybelius J, Kosic A, Salomonsson S, et al. Measurement properties of the patient health questionnaire-15 and somatic symptom scale-8: A systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7(11):e2446603. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.46603
- Seng BK, Luo N, Ng WY, Lim J, Chionh HL, Goh J. Validity and reliability of the Zarit burden interview in assessing caregiving burden. Ann Acad Med Singap. 2010;39(10):758-763.
- Fertelli TK, Tuncay FÖ. Relationship between care burden, social support and quality of life in caregivers of individual with stroke. J Acad Res Nurs. 2019;5(2):85-92. doi: 10.5222/jaren.2019.52386
- Aneshensel CS, Pearlin LI, Mullan JT, Zarit SH, Whitlatch CJ. Profiles in Caregiving: The Unexpected Career. Academic Press; 1995. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1996-97051-000
- Pearlin LI, Mullan JT, Semple SJ, Skaff MM. Caregiving and the stress process: An overview of concepts and their measures. Gerontologist. 1990;30(5):583-594. doi: 10.1093/geront/30.5.583
