Abstract

This study aimed to: (a) analyze social skills, social support, and quality of life in caregivers of elderly family members, and (b) assess the correlations among these constructs. Participants included 70 caregivers who assisted an older relative. The mean age of the caregivers was 57.3 years (SD = 10.6), and they completed the following instruments: a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Brazilian Family Economic Classification Checklist, the Social Skills Inventory for Family Caregivers of Elderly People, and the Perceived Social Support Scale and the Quality of Life Scale. Positive correlations of moderate strength were found among social skills, social support, and quality of life. Communicating emotions assertively was associated with obtaining support for coping, which, in turn, was associated with perceptions of quality of life. Thus, improvements in caregivers’ social skills repertoire may favor the search for social support, benefitting the caregiver-care recipient dyad.

Keywords:
social competence; social support; aging; family; psychological assessment