Sex, Perceived Social Support, and Physical Activity as Correlates of Depressive Symptoms in Informal Caregivers: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the Spanish National Health Survey 2023.
- 1Social Impact and Innovation in Health (InHEALTH), Faculty of Nursing and Occupational Therapy, University of Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain.
- 2Social Impact and Innovation in Health (InHEALTH), Faculty of Sports Sciences, University of Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain.
Abstract
Background/objectives
Informal caregivers are at an increased risk of developing depressive symptoms; however, the combined role of sex, perceived social support (PSS), and physical activity (PA) in this population remains insufficiently characterized. This study aimed to describe the prevalence of depressive symptoms among informal caregivers in a national health survey sample and to identify the biopsychosocial factors independently associated with them.Methods
This cross-sectional study used data from the Spanish National Health Survey 2023 (ESdE 2023). Informal caregivers (n = 2072) were identified using the caregiving status item. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (PHQ-8; score ≥5), a screening measure that does not establish a clinical diagnosis of depression. Backward Wald logistic regression identified the independently associated factors, and predicted probabilities were estimated using PA frequency (PAF) and PSS, stratified by sex. Survey weights and complex sample procedures were not applied.Results
Depressive symptoms were reported by 34.5% of caregivers, and were higher among women than men (37.2% vs. 30.7%). Being female (OR = 1.34) and never or occasionally engaging in PA (OR = 1.82 and 1.54, respectively; reference: very frequently) were associated with higher odds of depressive symptoms, whereas each one-point increase in PSS was associated with lower odds (OR = 0.79). The predicted probabilities were highest among caregivers with poor PSS and no PA and lowest among those with strong PSS and frequent PA.Conclusions
Female sex, lower PSS, and infrequent PA were independently associated with depressive symptoms in this sample of informal caregivers.
Related
- Caregiver burden and perceived community support as correlates of family quality of life among caregivers of individuals with autism spectrum disorder in Saudi Arabia
- Functional fitness, perceived barriers and exercise health belief domains as correlates of physical activity in older adults attending a Third Age University: a cross-sectional study
- Correlates of Caregiver Burden Among Informal Caregivers of Patients With Hematological Malignancies: The Roles of Coping, Resilience, and Perceived Social Support
- Physical Activity and Depressive Symptoms in Guangdong University Students: A Cross-Sectional Moderated Serial Indirect-Association Model Involving Self-Esteem, Positive Psychological Capital, and Perceived Social Support.
- Sexual dysfunction, depressive symptoms, and perceived impact of HBV infectivity among noncirrhotic patients with chronic hepatitis B: a cross-sectional study
BibTeX
@article{barriosfernandez2026perceived,
title = {{Sex, Perceived Social Support, and Physical Activity as Correlates of Depressive Symptoms in Informal Caregivers: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the Spanish National Health Survey 2023.}},
author = {Sabina Barrios-Fernandez and Diana Salas-Gómez and Cristina Mendoza-Holgado and Angel Denche-Zamorano},
journal = {Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/healthcare14203485},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42940530},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Sex, Perceived Social Support, and Physical Activity as Correlates of Depressive Symptoms in Informal Caregivers: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the Spanish National Health Survey 2023.
AU - Sabina Barrios-Fernandez
AU - Diana Salas-Gómez
AU - Cristina Mendoza-Holgado
AU - Angel Denche-Zamorano
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/16
JO - Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)
DO - 10.3390/healthcare14203485
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42940530
AB - Background/objectives Informal caregivers are at an increased risk of developing depressive symptoms; however, the combined role of sex, perceived social support (PSS), and physical activity (PA) in this population remains insufficiently characterized. This study aimed to describe the prevalence of depressive symptoms among informal caregivers in a national health survey sample and to identify the biopsychosocial factors independently associated with them.Methods This cross-sectional study used data from the Spanish National Health Survey 2023 (ESdE 2023). Informal caregivers (n = 2072) were identified using the caregiving status item. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (PHQ-8; score ≥5), a screening measure that does not establish a clinical diagnosis of depression. Backward Wald logistic regression identified the independently associated factors, and predicted probabilities were estimated using PA frequency (PAF) and PSS, stratified by sex. Survey weights and complex sample procedures were not applied.Results Depressive symptoms were reported by 34.5% of caregivers, and were higher among women than men (37.2% vs. 30.7%). Being female (OR = 1.34) and never or occasionally engaging in PA (OR = 1.82 and 1.54, respectively; reference: very frequently) were associated with higher odds of depressive symptoms, whereas each one-point increase in PSS was associated with lower odds (OR = 0.79). The predicted probabilities were highest among caregivers with poor PSS and no PA and lowest among those with strong PSS and frequent PA.Conclusions Female sex, lower PSS, and infrequent PA were independently associated with depressive symptoms in this sample of informal caregivers.
SN - 2227-9032
ER -