Introduction:

Ensuring the care in hemodialysis patient is a complex, demanding and stressful activity to which the caregiver is repeatedly exposed. Social support and resilience are protective factors that allow to mitigate the impact of stress on the caregiver’s mental health.

Objective:

Analyze social support and resilience as protective factors in caregivers of patients on hemodialysis.

Material and Method:

A sequential mixed model design with descriptive scope. A non-probability sampling was made for a sample of 67 caregivers of hemodialysis patients attending the Substitute Treatment Service during 2018.

A questionnaire of sociodemographic variables, the Duke-UNK-11 Functional Social Support Questionnaire and the Connor-Davidson Reduced Resilience Scale were used as instruments. Group interviews were developed for the collection of qualitative information.

Result:

The perceptions of social support as well as the dimensions of affective and confidential support are expressed in medium and low levels, distinguishing the family as the main support network for caregivers. Resilience reaches medium and high levels, with optimism, a sense of humor and the establishment of social relationships as the main resilient mechanisms to approach the care activity.

Conclusions:

Social support and resilience operate as protective factors in the caregivers studied. Both are considered as the main psychological resources to mitigate stress. Also they offer a different and enriching perspective to face adverse situations effectively in caregivers.