Caregiving Burden and Depressive Symptoms in Aphasia Caregivers: The Moderating Role of Friendship Support

Findings underscore the importance of improving not only the communication and life participation among individuals with aphasia but also the social and emotional health of their caregivers. This study informs the application of family-centered aphasia rehabilitation and the LPAA by demonstrating the value of integrating friendship support to buffer the association between caregiving burden and depressive symptoms. Future longitudinal studies with larger and more representative samples are needed to elucidate the mechanisms between caregiving burden, friendship support, and depressive symptoms that are generalizable to aphasia caregivers.