# The influence of caregiver preparedness, perceived social support and general self-efficacy on self-contribution among stroke caregivers: a cross-sectional study

## TL;DR

This study explores how caregiver preparedness, social support, and self-efficacy influence their ability to support stroke patients' self-care.

## Contribution

The study identifies partial mediating roles of perceived social support and general self-efficacy in the relationship between caregiving preparedness and self-care contribution.

## Key findings

- Self-care contribution is positively correlated with caregiving preparedness, perceived social support, and general self-efficacy.
- Perceived social support and general self-efficacy partially mediate the relationship between caregiving preparedness and self-care contribution.
- Interventions should focus on training, social support networks, and boosting self-efficacy to improve caregiver outcomes.

## Abstract

Caregivers’ self-care contributions are crucial for enhancing stroke patients’ self-care capabilities, and patients receiving family support often demonstrate higher treatment adherence. Although it is widely recognized that caregivers’ preparedness to provide care positively influences self-care contributions, the underlying mechanisms of this association remain unclear. This study aims to explore the mechanisms through which caregiver preparedness, perceived social support, and general self-efficacy influence caregiver readiness and self-care contribution among stroke caregivers in the contemporary Chinese context.

Based on the Individual and Family Self-Management Theory (IFSMT) model, this study examined the effects of caregivers’ caregiving preparedness, perceived social support, and general self-efficacy on their self-care contribution among stroke caregivers.

A cross-sectional study.

Using convenience sampling, 277 stroke caregivers from four tertiary Grade A hospitals in Xiangxi, Hunan Province, China were surveyed with paper-based questionnaires during outpatient follow-up visits in July 2024. Data were analyzed using SPSS/AMOS for descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, multiple regression, and structural equation modeling with bootstrapping to test hypothesized relationships and mediation effects.

The self-care contribution was at a moderate level, showing significant positive correlations with caregiving preparedness, perceived social support, and general self-efficacy. Both perceived social support and general self-efficacy demonstrated partial mediating effects between caregiving preparedness and self-care contribution.

Improving caregivers’ self-care contribution requires focused attention on enhancing caregiving preparedness, perceived social support, and general self-efficacy. The study highlights the bridging role of perceived social support and general self-efficacy between preparedness and contribution. Clinical interventions should: ① strengthen preparedness through standardized training, ② build social support networks for psychological empowerment, and ③ employ motivational interviewing to boost self-efficacy, thereby establishing a virtuous cycle of “knowledge-resources-confidence”.