Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Objective: To study depression and its related factors in family caregivers of elderly patients with schizophrenia. Methods: This study was descriptive correlational research. The sample consisted of 120 unpaid family caregivers. The patients were receiving services at the outpatient department of a psychiatric hospital under the Department of Mental Health, Ministry of Public Health. The research instruments comprised six parts: 1) the Personal Information Questionnaire, 2) the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, 3) the Caregiver Burden Questionnaire, 4) the Social Support Questionnaire, 5) the Brief COPE inventory (Thai version), and 6) the Family Conflict Scales. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation coefficient. Results: 1) Approximately 41.7% of the participants experienced depressive symptoms (Mean = 4.64, SD = 4.48). 2) Caregiver burden and family conflict were found to have a moderate positive correlation with depression in family caregivers of elderly patients with schizophrenia, with statistical significance at the .05 level (r = .561, .437). Conversely, social support and coping strategies had a low to moderate negative correlation with depression, also with statistical significance at the .05 level (r = -.280, = -.317). Conclusion: To prevent and reduce depression in family caregivers, it is recommended to implement interventions that lessen caregiver burden and family conflict, while also increasing social support, knowledge and skills on effective coping strategies.
Institution: Chiang Mai University
Language: Thai
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7219366816