Mediating effect of social support between caregiver burden and quality of life among family caregivers of cancer patients in Chinese palliative care unit

•This study addresses a research gap by investigating the relationship between social support, caregiver burden, and quality of life among family caregivers in of cancer patients Chinese palliative care units, contributing to the understanding of their experiences and needs in a specific cultural and clinical setting.•Caregivers' daily care time, the caregiver-patient relationship, and patient age significantly influence the quality of life (QoL) of family caregivers.•This study highlights the effectiveness of culturally specific social support in improving the quality of life for family caregivers of patients with advanced cancer, advocating for its expansion within Chinese cultural communities and beyond.