The longitudinal impacts of secondary caregiver networks on primary caregiver's social isolation and depression.

ABSTRACT:

Background and objectives

Caregiving for older adults often leads to increased social isolation and depression among primary caregivers. Secondary caregiver networks (SCNs) may provide crucial support, potentially mitigating these adverse outcomes. This study aimed to identify the SCN support patterns and examine their impacts on primary caregivers' social isolation and depression over 2 years, as well as potential differences in the associations by gender and race.

Research design and methods

Data from the 2015 and 2017 National Study of Caregiving (NSOC) and National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) were used. Latent profile analysis identified distinct SCN support patterns. Mixed-effects models assessed associations between SCN patterns, social isolation, and depress

SUBMITTER: Liang J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12393903 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature