Abstract: Objective To investigate the current situation of emotion and social support among caregivers of children with living-related liver transplantation. Analyze the influencing factors of caregiver emotions and explore their correlation with social support. Methods A cross-sectional study design was conducted using convenience sampling to sellect 224 caregivers of children undergoing living-related liver transplantation who were treated in a tertiary hospital in Shanghai from January 1, 2022 to December 30, 2022. The General Information Questionnaire, Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS) and Brief Profile Mood States (BPOMS) were used as research tools to conduct the questionnaires. Results The positive emotion score of caregivers was (10.42±4.75) points, the negative emotion score was 23.00 (9.00, 42.00) points and the social support score is (40.81±8.88) points. Social support was positively correlated with positive emotions (r=0.283, P<0.01) and negatively correlated with negative emotions (r=-0.284, P<0.01). Social support had a significant impact on positive emotions of caregivers (P<0.01). Social support, work status and debt status had significant effects on negative emotions of caregivers (P<0.05). Conclusion Caregivers exhibited both positive and negative emotions, with a medium level of positive emotions and a low level of negative emotions. Social support for caregivers was moderate, and increasing social support can help improve their emotional state.

Key words: Pediatric liver transplantation, Living-related liver transplantation, Caregivers, Social support, Emotion