Dyadic Effects of Social Support and Psychological Resilience on Distress in Disabled Elderly–Caregiver Pairs: An Actor-Partner Interdependence Mediation Model

Background Social support influences psychological resilience, which in turn affects disabled elderly and caregivers’ psychological distress. Objective Based on the actor–partner interdependence model extended to mediation, we explore the interaction relationship between social support for disabled elderly and caregivers and the mediating role of psychological resilience in psychological pain. Methods A total of 214 disabled elderly individuals and their caregivers were surveyed using a general information questionnaire, Lubben Social Network Scale, Social Support Rating Scale, Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale, and distress thermometer (DT). Results Caregivers’ social support (t = −11.2, p < 0.001) and psychological resilience (t = −6.38, p < 0.001) were significantly higher than those of the disabled elderly, while the psychological pain of the disabled elderly was significantly higher than that of caregivers (t = 5.21, p < 0.001). In the actor–partner mediation model, the social support of disabled elderly and caregivers played a fully and partially mediating role in their psychological pain, respectively, through psychological resilience. Moreover, the social support of caregivers had a partner effect on the psychological resilience and pain of disabled elderly people. Conclusion Both disabled elderly individuals and caregivers have significant mediating effects of psychological resilience between social support and psychological distress. The level of social support provided by caregivers can have an objective mediating effect on the psychological pain of disabled elderly people through their psychological resilience. The results suggest that in clinical research, the establishment of community support networks and flexible psychological interventions can help improve the psychological pain of disabled elderly people and their caregivers. Meanwhile, from the perspective of the actor-partner interdependence, future efforts should emphasize caregiver empowerment, improve their social support and psychological resilience, which will in turn help reduce psychological distress in the disabled elderly.