Perceived stress and social support influence anxiety symptoms of Chinese family caregivers of community‐dwelling older adults: a cross‐sectional study

• Published in: Psychogeriatrics Vol. 20; no. 4; pp. 377 - 384
• Main Authors: Shi, Jing, Huang, Aoran, Jia, Yajing, Yang, Xiaoshi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Melbourne John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd 01.07.2020; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Aged; Anxiety; anxiety symptoms; Caregivers; China; Chronic illnesses; Cross-Sectional Studies; Family; Humans; Independent Living; Older people; perceived stress; Sleep; Social interactions; Social Support; Stress; Stress, Psychological; China; social support; anxiety symptoms; perceived stress; caregivers
• ISSN: 1346-3500; 1479-8301
• DOI: 10.1111/psyg.12510

Aim Chinese family members always take care of older adults because of obligations stemming from the culture of filial piety and the paucity of a long‐term care system. These caregivers usually perceive high levels of stress that could compromise their psychological health and consequently result in anxiety impairments. This study aimed to assess the anxiety symptoms of Chinese family caregivers of older adults, explore factors associated with these symptoms, and provide theoretical evidence on improving their mental health. Methods A questionnaire survey was conducted face‐to‐face with caregivers of community‐dwelling older adults. The survey asked about the demographic characteristics of the caregivers and older adults, objective caregiving loads, and social support and included the Zung Self‐Rating Anxiety Scale and the Perceived Stress Scale. Results Anxiety symptoms were present in 43.1% of caregivers. The R2 changes indicated that the incremental variance explained by each block of variables was 9.8%, 5.0%, 0.7%, 17.6%, and 2.1% for demographic characteristics of caregivers, demographic characteristics of older adults, objective caregiving loads, perceived stress, and social support, respectively. Perceived stress was the strongest predictor of anxiety symptoms, and social support was positively associated with anxiety symptoms. Factors associated with caregivers' anxiety symptoms were having a chronic disease and living with older adults, as well as older adults’ weight, hours of sleep, and education level. Conclusion Chinese family caregivers of older adults experienced higher levels of anxiety symptoms. Perceived stress could aggravate these symptoms, but social support might assist in alleviating anxiety symptoms from the stress of caregiving.