Evidence map›Paper›PMID 31898490›Full record

ArticleBMC geriatrics2020

Social support and depressive symptoms among family caregivers of older people with disabilities in four provinces of urban China: the mediating role of caregiver burden.

Yaqin Zhong, Jian Wang, Stephen Nicholas

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC geriatrics, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 70 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
70citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

70 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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  6. Associations influencing quality of life in caregivers of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a stress-process model approach.Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation · 2026
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10 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Yaqin ZhongSchool of Public Health, Nantong University, 9 Seyuan Road, Nantong, 210029, Jiangsu, China.
Jian WangDong Furen Institute of Economic and Social Development, Wuhan University, 54 Dongsi Lishi Hutong, Beijing, 100010, China.
Stephen NicholasSchool of Economics and School of Management, Tianjin Normal University, West Bin Shui Avenue, Tianjin, 300074, People's Republic of China. stephen.nicholas@newcastle.edu.au.ORCID 0000-0001-6770-7105

Funding

Nantong Municipal Science and Technology Bureau (CN) MSI2017016-4National Natural Science Foundation 71702131National Natural Science Foundation of China 71603136
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundTo examine the relationship between social support and depressive symptoms of Chinese family caregivers of older people with disabilities, and to evaluate the role of caregiver burden as a potential mediator of that relationship.

methodsA survey questionnaire was completed face-to-face by 567 primary family caregivers of older people with disabilities in four provinces in China. Covariates that may affect depressive symptoms, such as the characteristics of disabled people (socio-economic factors, functional and cognitive capacity) and caregivers (caregiver duration and self-rated health of caregivers) were collected. Social support was measured by the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS); depressive symptoms were assessed by the shortened 10 item version of Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale (CES-D); and the caregiver burden was assessed by the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI).

resultsThe prevalence of depressive symptoms among caregivers was 37.7%. Higher levels of social support was negatively associated with lower depressive symptoms. This relationship was partially mediated by the caregiver burden, where higher levels of the caregiver burden were negatively associated with depressive symptoms. Furthermore, caregivers who were women, spent extended time in caregiving and were in poor health, reported significantly higher depressive symptoms.

conclusionsOur results indicated that social support was negatively associated with depressive symptoms in family caregivers and in the caregiver burden. The caregiver burden partially mediated the social support-depressive symptoms association. Interventions for family caregivers should include increasing social support, health monitoring and structured interventions to reduce the caregiver burden and attenuate family caregivers' depressive symptoms.

Indexed as

CaregiversDepressionPersons with DisabilitiesSocial SupportAgedAged, 80 and overChinaCost of IllnessCross-Sectional StudiesFamilyFemaleHumansMaleCaregiver burdenDepressive symptomsSocial support

Identifiers

PMID31898490
PMCPMC6941264

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.