RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DEPRESSION, HEALTH, AND PERCEIVED SOCIAL SUPPORT AMONG FAMILIES OF PSYCHIATRIC PATIENTS

Background: Caring for psychiatric patients places significant emotional, psychological, and social burdens on families. Depression is prevalent in caregivers, often impacting their health and perceived social support. Social networks play a crucial role in alleviating caregiver distress, yet the extent to which these factors interact remains underexplored, particularly in non-Western settings. Understanding these relationships can inform targeted interventions to support caregivers and improve their overall well-being. Objective: The study aimed to examine the relationship between depression, health, and perceived social support in families of psychiatric patients, assess their collective impact, and analyze variations based on demographic factors, including gender, residence, socioeconomic status, and patient diagnosis. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 200 caregivers of psychiatric patients recruited from CMH Multan and Ar-Rahma Hospital for Mental Health, Multan. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) assessed depression, the PROMIS Global Health Scale SF measured overall health, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) evaluated social support. Pearson correlation, independent t-tests, and one-way ANOVA were applied using SPSS-22 to analyze associations and demographic variations. Results :A significant negative correlation was found between depression and health (r = -0.434, p < 0.01) and between depression and social support (r = -0.299, p < 0.01), whereas social support and health showed a positive correlation (r = 0.231, p < 0.01). Males reported higher mental health (M = 3.68, SD = 0.45) and family support (M = 4.21, SD = 1.15) than females (p < 0.05), while females exhibited higher depression levels (M = 0.58, SD = 0.47, p < 0.05). Socioeconomic status significantly influenced depression and perceived social support (p < 0.001), with lower-income caregivers experiencing higher psychological distress. No significant effects of residence or psychiatric diagnosis were found (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Findings highlight the critical role of social support in mitigating depression and improving health in psychiatric caregivers. Gender and socioeconomic disparities emphasize the need for targeted mental health interventions to support vulnerable groups. Expanding mental health policies to include caregiver-focused programs is essential for enhancing psychological resilience and social well-being.