Social contextual factors, social support and accessibility of social services in the health and life satisfaction of family caregivers in Hong Kong
Abstract Purpose Health issues and life satisfaction among family caregivers have attracted significant public and scholarly attention, but research on socio-demographic and social contextual factors contributing to family caregivers’ burdens remains limited in scope. This study aims to assess the f...
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BMC
2025-05-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23307-w |
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| author | Shaolingyun Guo Qiqi Chen Ko Ling Chan |
| author_facet | Shaolingyun Guo Qiqi Chen Ko Ling Chan |
| author_sort | Shaolingyun Guo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Purpose Health issues and life satisfaction among family caregivers have attracted significant public and scholarly attention, but research on socio-demographic and social contextual factors contributing to family caregivers’ burdens remains limited in scope. This study aims to assess the factors associated with subjective health, mental health and life satisfaction among family caregivers based on a representative community sample of Hong Kong families. Methods The analysis was performed using the Family Survey, a territory-wide household survey conducted in Hong Kong. The data for the current study included 1,647 family members in either nuclear families or extended households. A three-phase multivariate regression analysis was carried out to investigate the associations between a variety of social contextual factors and physical health, mental health, as well as life satisfaction. Results Results show that female caregivers experience significant psychological health burdens, older caregivers face physical health burdens, unemployment impacts overall life satisfaction, and lower monthly income and smaller living spaces contribute significantly to physical health and life satisfaction. Additionally, primary caregiving roles are associated with lower life satisfaction, while a higher level of perceived social support leads to better health and a higher level of life satisfaction. No significant relationship was found between caregiving duties and constraints on accessing social services for assistance. Conclusion The study highlights the importance of enhancing social support and economic assistance for caregivers, particularly for women and the elderly, to alleviate psychological and physical burdens. Future services should focus on improving accessibility to social service resources and developing targeted programs to address these specific needs. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-01dff12c3bb5475dbb28ab406e6e6fff |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-01dff12c3bb5475dbb28ab406e6e6fff2025-08-20T03:16:41ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-05-0125111410.1186/s12889-025-23307-wSocial contextual factors, social support and accessibility of social services in the health and life satisfaction of family caregivers in Hong KongShaolingyun Guo0Qiqi Chen1Ko Ling Chan2Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityDepartment of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityDepartment of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityAbstract Purpose Health issues and life satisfaction among family caregivers have attracted significant public and scholarly attention, but research on socio-demographic and social contextual factors contributing to family caregivers’ burdens remains limited in scope. This study aims to assess the factors associated with subjective health, mental health and life satisfaction among family caregivers based on a representative community sample of Hong Kong families. Methods The analysis was performed using the Family Survey, a territory-wide household survey conducted in Hong Kong. The data for the current study included 1,647 family members in either nuclear families or extended households. A three-phase multivariate regression analysis was carried out to investigate the associations between a variety of social contextual factors and physical health, mental health, as well as life satisfaction. Results Results show that female caregivers experience significant psychological health burdens, older caregivers face physical health burdens, unemployment impacts overall life satisfaction, and lower monthly income and smaller living spaces contribute significantly to physical health and life satisfaction. Additionally, primary caregiving roles are associated with lower life satisfaction, while a higher level of perceived social support leads to better health and a higher level of life satisfaction. No significant relationship was found between caregiving duties and constraints on accessing social services for assistance. Conclusion The study highlights the importance of enhancing social support and economic assistance for caregivers, particularly for women and the elderly, to alleviate psychological and physical burdens. Future services should focus on improving accessibility to social service resources and developing targeted programs to address these specific needs.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23307-wFamily caregiverCaregiver burdenHealthMental healthLife satisfactionSocial support |
| spellingShingle | Shaolingyun Guo Qiqi Chen Ko Ling Chan Social contextual factors, social support and accessibility of social services in the health and life satisfaction of family caregivers in Hong Kong BMC Public Health Family caregiver Caregiver burden Health Mental health Life satisfaction Social support |
| title | Social contextual factors, social support and accessibility of social services in the health and life satisfaction of family caregivers in Hong Kong |
| title_full | Social contextual factors, social support and accessibility of social services in the health and life satisfaction of family caregivers in Hong Kong |
| title_fullStr | Social contextual factors, social support and accessibility of social services in the health and life satisfaction of family caregivers in Hong Kong |
| title_full_unstemmed | Social contextual factors, social support and accessibility of social services in the health and life satisfaction of family caregivers in Hong Kong |
| title_short | Social contextual factors, social support and accessibility of social services in the health and life satisfaction of family caregivers in Hong Kong |
| title_sort | social contextual factors social support and accessibility of social services in the health and life satisfaction of family caregivers in hong kong |
| topic | Family caregiver Caregiver burden Health Mental health Life satisfaction Social support |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23307-w |
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