The longitudinal impacts of secondary caregiver networks on primary caregiver's social isolation and depression.

Background and objectives: Caregiving for older adults often leads to increased social isolation and depression among primary caregivers. Secondary caregiver networks (SCNs) may provide crucial support, potentially mitigating these adverse outcomes. This study aimed to identify the SCN support patterns and examine their impacts on primary caregivers' social isolation and depression over 2 years, as well as potential differences in the associations by gender and race.

Research design and methods: Data from the 2015 and 2017 National Study of Caregiving (NSOC) and National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) were used. Latent profile analysis identified distinct SCN support patterns. Mixed-effects models assessed associations between SCN patterns, social isolation, and depression.

Results: Among 782 primary and 1,003 secondary caregivers, three SCN support patterns (low, medium, and high) were identified. Higher SCN support was associated with lower social isolation at baseline, but increased social isolation over time. Depression increased over time, but was not associated with SCN support. No significant gender and racial differences were found.

Discussion and implications: While SCN support initially reduces social isolation among primary caregivers, its effectiveness diminishes over time. The study highlights the necessity for continuous social and mental health support for primary caregivers, regardless of SCN support level, to better address the evolving demands of caregiving.