Test Your Knowledge on Social Support and Depression After Limb Loss

Social Support Moderates Depression after Amputation

• Lower ADL function and lower social support increase the risk of depression symptoms post-amputation.
• Perceived social support is a modifiable target of intervention for individuals with lower levels of functioning.
• Social support has been linked to decreased incidence of morbidity, mortality, and depression in the general population.
• Individuals with limb loss face various psychosocial challenges, including unemployment.
• Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was used to examine the moderating effect of perceived social support on the relationship between baseline ADL functioning and depressive symptoms at 12 months.
• Pearson correlations and ANOVAs were used to examine potential relationships between sociodemographic variables and the primary outcome variable.
• Participants completed assessments at 6 weeks and 12 months post-amputation using the PHQ-9, LCI-5, MSSS-5, and GARS.
• Of the 87 participants enrolled in the study, 73 (84%) had complete study data at both 6 weeks and 12 months following amputation and were included in the current analyses.
• Findings suggest that social support served as a protective factor against depressive symptoms 12 months after amputation among patients with poor ADL functioning.
• Poor social support and limited ADL functioning may serve as unique but interdependent barriers to participating in meaningful and rewarding activities.
• The use of retrospective recall to assess baseline levels of ADL function and perceived social support is a significant limitation.
• Establishing modifiable targets of intervention is essential for successful programmatic efforts to promote adjustment following limb loss, and social support may be one such component that is responsive to intervention.