The study applies Strong Structuration Theory to explore how informal carers' external structures (the size and quality of their social support network SN) influences their internal structures (caregiving network CN and levels of digital competence DC), action (caregiving hours per week CH), and outcomes (health-related quality of life QL, burden of care BC, and loneliness Lo). Two hundred informal carers of patients with chronic health issues were recruited and assessed, with a mean age was 59.2 ± 12.3 years (range: 25-86). Most were female and married; slightly more than half were the care recipient's children, 19.1% were spouses, 8.1% were siblings, and 7% were sons-/daughters-in-law. Conditional process analysis indicated a positive association between SN and CN, along with a chain mediation from CN to CH, BC, and QL that reduced loneliness. Overall, carers' external structures shaped their internal structures and actions, yielding both positive and negative outcomes. Digital competence moderated the relationship between CH and BC, reducing BC and loneliness. Social workers and healthcare practitioners should implement technology-based interventions to strengthen carers' social connectedness and mitigate the negative effects of caregiving.
Liu et al. (Sat,) studied this question.