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Published on: November 19, 2015
Association between perceived social support and better cognitive performance among caregivers and non-caregivers
Sofia Cristina Iost Pavarini1, Ana Carolina Ottaviani1, Allan Gustavo Bregola2
1Universidade Federal de São Carlos. São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil.
Objective:
to identify the association between the characteristics of the support network and cognitive performance of older caregivers and compare characteristics between caregivers and non-caregivers.
Methods:
we evaluated 85 older caregivers and 84 older non-caregivers registered with primary care units regarding sociodemographic characteristics, cognition, and social support. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed.
Results:
among non-caregivers, significant associations were found between a better cognitive performance and receiving emotional/affectionate support; each one-point increase in the emotional support score and affectionate support score was related to a 0.43-point and 0.39-point increase in cognitive assessment, respectively. Among older caregivers, each one-point increase in the emotional support score was related to a 0.55-point increase in cognitive assessment.
Conclusion:
strengthening the support networks of older caregivers and encouraging satisfactory exchanges of social support can assist in improving cognitive performance, which can have a positive impact on caregivers' health.
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