Impact of Social Support on Self-Perceived Burden in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients: The Mediating Roles of Family Care and Psychological Resilience

Abstract Objective To investigate the mediating effects of family care and psychological resilience in the relationship between social support and self-reported burden among patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD), and to establish the foundation for the development of interventions aimed at alleviating their perceived burden. Methods A convenience sample of 539 patients PD was recruited from the nephrology departments of four hospitals in Shanghai between January and September 2024. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires, which included sociodemographic information, the Family Care Index Questionnaire, the Psychological Resilience Scale, the Social Support Rating Scale, and the Self-Perceived Burden Scale. Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to assess the relationships among the variables, followed by the development and validation of a multiple mediation model. Results Among patients undergoing PD, the mean scores for family care, psychological resilience, social support, and self-perceived burden were 4.45 ± 2.93, 49.61 ± 18.07, 30.03 ± 8.54, and 33.13 ± 7.94, respectively. Negative correlations were identified between family care, psychological resilience, social support, and self-perceived burden in PD patients. The multiple mediation model revealed that family care played a significant mediating role in the relationship between social support and self-perceived burden, while the mediating effect of psychological resilience did not reach statistical significance. Regarding the impact of social support on self-perceived burden, the total effect was -1.516, with a direct effect of -1.131 and an indirect effect mediated by family care of 0.208. Conclusion Within the cohort of patients undergoing PD, family care plays a significant mediating role in the relationship between social support and self-perceived burden. This finding suggests that interventions aimed at strengthening family care may effectively reduce patients’ perceived burden and enhance their mental well-being during the course of clinical treatment.