Social support effect on family caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s disease: A systematic review with meta-analysis

Abstract

The present work aimed to establish whether there is a relationship between social support and depression in family caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s, as well as to specify the effects and ways in which social support contributes to a better psychosocial state of the caregiver. A systematic review with meta-analysis was carried out, using the CMA software. The combined correlation coefficient, total sample size and confidence interval (95%) were studied. Statistical heterogeneity was analyzed with the degree of inconsistency (I2) and the p-value of Q. The p-value of Egger’s test and the Funnel plot were used for publication bias. Robustness was studied using sensitivity analysis. The combined r of the Forest plot was -.332. In statistical heterogeneity, a Q of 10.54 was found, p = 4. For publication bias, the risk was low after reviewing the symmetry of the Funnel plot together with the Egger test, p = 0.8 and the sensitivity of the result. it was 4.5%. In conclusion, it was found that social support, when it meets a series of requirements, reduces depression in caregivers of Alzheimer’s patients. However, more research is required to identify what type of social support is needed in different types of caregivers and circumstances.