The Role of Social Support and Cultural Perceptions in Shaping Psychological Resilience Among Spouses of Hepatitis C Patients

Abstract

This study investigates the role of social support as a determinant of psychological resilience among spouses of Hepatitis C patients. The study explores cultural perceptions which range from supportive to neutral and stigmatizing to determine their effect on caregiver psychological outcomes. Social support functions as a determinant of psychological resilience between spouses of Hepatitis C patients while socioeconomic status (SES) acts as an intervening factor in this relationship. Two hospitals in Abbottabad including AMH and CMH served as the sampling locations from which 200 participants were selected through purposive sampling for the cross-sectional study. The research utilized structured interviews together with validated assessment tools that consisted of MSPSS Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and CD-RISC Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale and a custom cultural perception survey. The study utilized demographics statistics for participant information displays and conducted correlation along with multiple regression procedures to investigate the associations between social support and cultural perceptions and SES factors alongside psychological resilience assessment. The study used moderation analysis to evaluate how social support works together with SES status. Participants who received higher amounts of social support demonstrated better psychological resilience especially when their socioeconomic status (SES) was elevated. Values held by particular cultures exert strong impacts on results since positive cultural attitudes strengthen resilience yet negative cultural views intensify psychological issues. Subjects with higher SES levels experienced more positive outcomes from social support with regard to their resilience levels. Social support and SES serve as major determinants of psychological resilience but caregiver burden mainly exists based on cultural interpretations. The well-being and resilience of caregivers can improve when support networks get stronger and cultural norms receive stigmatizing challenges and socioeconomic issues receive adequate attention.