The prevalence of depressive symptoms among family caregivers has been documented as a serious social problem that could threaten the lives of the elderly and their family caregivers. Social support is considered to be a promising remedy for this problem, although a comprehensive examination of the availability and effectiveness of social support that includes both formal and informal support across multiple dimensions remains limited. In addition, little research has been conducted in Japan on gender differences in stress processes. This study tried to fill those gaps by analyzing recent survey data on sons and daughters who are caring for their elderly parents. The results indicate that sons and daughters have similar levels of formal and informal support for daily care and advice, while there are some gender differences in regard to the availability of other types of social support. It was also found that many types of informal support were significantly associated with a lower caregiver burden for daughters, although this was not necessarily the case for formal support. General instrumental support from formal sources was even associated with higher levels of distress. For sons acting as caregivers, daily caregiving support was the only formal support that was significantly associated with their lower level of distress. Issues of formal support are discussed, in order to reduce the psychological burdens borne by sons and daughters who care for their parents at home.

中文翻译：

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家庭照顾者的社会支持和心理健康：日本的子女照顾年迈的父母

家庭照顾者中抑郁症状的流行已被证明是一个严重的社会问题，可能威胁到老年人及其家庭照顾者的生命。社会支持被认为是解决这个问题的有希望的补救措施，尽管对社会支持的可用性和有效性（包括跨多个维度的正式和非正式支持）的全面检查仍然有限。此外，日本几乎没有对压力过程中的性别差异进行过研究。这项研究试图通过分析最近关于照顾年迈父母的儿子和女儿的调查数据来填补这些空白。结果表明，儿子和女儿对日常护理和建议的正式和非正式支持水平相似，虽然在其他类型的社会支持的可用性方面存在一些性别差异。还发现许多类型的非正式支持与女儿的较低照顾者负担显着相关，尽管正式支持不一定如此。来自正式来源的一般工具性支持甚至与更高程度的痛苦有关。对于作为照顾者的儿子来说，日常照顾支持是唯一与他们较低的痛苦程度显着相关的正式支持。讨论正式赡养问题，以减轻在家照顾父母的子女的心理负担。还发现许多类型的非正式支持与女儿的较低照顾者负担显着相关，尽管正式支持不一定如此。来自正式来源的一般工具性支持甚至与更高程度的痛苦有关。对于作为照顾者的儿子来说，日常照顾支持是唯一与他们较低的痛苦程度显着相关的正式支持。讨论正式赡养问题，以减轻在家照顾父母的子女的心理负担。还发现许多类型的非正式支持与女儿的较低照顾者负担显着相关，尽管正式支持不一定如此。来自正式来源的一般工具性支持甚至与更高程度的痛苦有关。对于作为照顾者的儿子来说，日常照顾支持是唯一与他们较低的痛苦程度显着相关的正式支持。讨论正式赡养问题，以减轻在家照顾父母的子女的心理负担。日常护理支持是唯一与他们较低的痛苦程度显着相关的正式支持。讨论正式赡养问题，以减轻在家照顾父母的子女的心理负担。日常护理支持是唯一与他们较低的痛苦程度显着相关的正式支持。讨论正式赡养问题，以减轻在家照顾父母的子女的心理负担。