ISSN: 2222-6990
Open access
Family caregivers play a crucial role in meeting the increasing demands of long-term care in many countries. As noted, caring for older family members is challenging and stressful, resulting in adverse physical and emotional health outcomes for family caregivers. As the Malaysian population ages, there is a growing need for care, leading to a shift from formal to informal care. To address these challenges, having a strong social support system is essential. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between self-efficacy, social support, and perceived stress among family caregivers of older adults in Malaysia. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 92 family caregivers using online structured questionnaires. The results revealed a significant relationship between self-efficacy, social support, and perceived stress. Furthermore, the study identified significant relationships between demographic variables such as age and income, and perceived stress. Therefore, it is important to consider self-efficacy and social support in caregiving initiatives to alleviate the burden of caregiving. In conclusion, by strengthening their self-efficacy and social support, caregivers can reduce perceived stress. These findings emphasize the need to incorporate psychological resources into caregiving initiatives to support caregivers and alleviate the burden they face.
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