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A model for family caregiving was developed that linked social support and caregiving burden. A component of the theoretical model suggests that caregivers with high social skills will be able to mobilize social support in their environments more effectively, resulting in a decrease in their perceived caregiving burden. A pilot intervention study explored whether there was any difference in caregiving burden for subjects receiving social skills training and subjects in a control group. Results at pretest revealed no significant differences between the groups. Results at posttest revealed that a significant decrease in both objective and subjective burden occurred for the treatment group. These results indicate that further investigation about how best to support the caregivers who regularly care for and assist their elderly members is of prime importance.
Karen M. Robinson (Fri,) studied this question.