The Impact of Coping Strategies of Cancer Caregivers on Psychophysiological Outcomes: an Integrative Review

Overview

Journal Psychol Res Behav Manag

Publisher Dove Medical Press

Specialty Social Sciences

Date 2018 Jun 7

PMID 29872357

Citations 22

Authors

Ricardo Joao Teixeira

Allison J Applebaum

Sangeeta Bhatia

Tania Brandao

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose: A growing number of studies have explored the psychosocial burden experienced by cancer caregivers, but less attention has been given to the psychophysiological impact of caregiving and the impact of caregivers' coping strategies on this association. This paper reviews existing research on the processes underlying distress experienced by cancer caregivers, with a specific focus on the role of coping strategies on psychophysiological correlates of burden.

Methods: A broad literature search was conducted in health-related databases namely MEDLINE, Science Citations Index Expanded, Scopus, and PsycINFO, using relevant search terms. All types of studies published in English were considered for inclusion.

Results: We found that cancer caregiving was related to increased blood pressure, dysregulation of autonomic nervous system, hypothalamic-pituitary-axis dysregulation, immune changes, and poor health-related behaviors. We also found that problem-focused coping was associated with decreased caregiver burden, decreased depression, and better adjustment, while emotion-focused coping was related to higher levels of posttraumatic growth and psychological distress. The way coping impacts psychophysiological correlates of burden, however, remains unexplored.

Conclusion: A better understanding of the psychophysiological elements of caregiver burden is needed. We propose a model that attends specifically to factors that may impact psychophysiological correlates of burden among cancer caregivers. Based on the proposed model, psychosocial interventions that specifically target caregivers' coping and emotion regulation skills, family functioning, and self-care are endemic to the preservation of the health and well-being of this vulnerable population.

Citing Articles

Challenges and Approaches to Recruitment for and Retention in a Dyad-Focused eHealth Intervention During COVID-19: Randomized Controlled Trial.

Ma C, Adler R, Neidre D, Chen R, Northouse L, Rini C J Med Internet Res. 2024; 26:e51877.

PMID: 39625741 PMC: 11653043. DOI: 10.2196/51877.

Confirmatory validation of a brief patient-reported outcome measure assessing psychological distress in caregivers of malignant mesothelioma patients: the Mesothelioma Psychological Distress Tool-Caregivers.

Granieri A, Franzoi I, Sauta M, Marinaccio A, Mensi C, Rugarli S Front Psychol. 2024; 15:1444960.

PMID: 39512577 PMC: 11541108. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1444960.

Experiences of informal caregivers supporting individuals with upper gastrointestinal cancers: a systematic review.

Furtado M, Davis D, Groarke J, Graham-Wisener L BMC Health Serv Res. 2024; 24(1):932.

PMID: 39143501 PMC: 11325824. DOI: 10.1186/s12913-024-11306-3.

Profiles of parental coping with paediatric cancer and their associations with parental illness adaptation.

Golfenshtein N, Barakat L, Lisanti A, Ash S J Adv Nurs. 2024; 81(3):1376-1387.

PMID: 39082224 PMC: 11810492. DOI: 10.1111/jan.16341.

So what I'm stressed? A qualitative study examininga caregivers' reactions to emerging biomarkers of stress.

Sannes T, Parmet T, Yusufov M, Sutherland J, Stefanik J, Andrade N Brain Behav Immun Health. 2024; 38:100783.

PMID: 38818371 PMC: 11137355. DOI: 10.1016/j.bbih.2024.100783.

References

Applebaum A, Breitbart W . Care for the cancer caregiver: a systematic review. Palliat Support Care. 2012; 11(3):231-52. PMC: 4973511. DOI: 10.1017/S1478951512000594. View

Northouse L, Katapodi M, Schafenacker A, Weiss D . The impact of caregiving on the psychological well-being of family caregivers and cancer patients. Semin Oncol Nurs. 2012; 28(4):236-45. DOI: 10.1016/j.soncn.2012.09.006. View

Schulz R, Beach S . Caregiving as a risk factor for mortality: the Caregiver Health Effects Study. JAMA. 1999; 282(23):2215-9. DOI: 10.1001/jama.282.23.2215. View

Stenberg U, Ekstedt M, Olsson M, Ruland C . Living close to a person with cancer: a review of the international literature and implications for social work practice. J Gerontol Soc Work. 2014; 57(6-7):531-55. DOI: 10.1080/01634372.2014.881450. View

Lebel S, Trinkaus E, Faure M, Fernandez P, Guerin C, Richter D . Comparative morphology and paleobiology of Middle Pleistocene human remains from the Bau de l'Aubesier, Vaucluse, France. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2001; 98(20):11097-102. PMC: 58689. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.181353998. View

Fitzell A, Pakenham K . Application of a stress and coping model to positive and negative adjustment outcomes in colorectal cancer caregiving. Psychooncology. 2009; 19(11):1171-8. DOI: 10.1002/pon.1666. View

Waldron E, Janke E, Bechtel C, Ramirez M, Cohen A . A systematic review of psychosocial interventions to improve cancer caregiver quality of life. Psychooncology. 2012; 22(6):1200-7. DOI: 10.1002/pon.3118. View

Shuchter S, Hutchin S, Strause L, Burns K, Zisook S . The psychological and physical health of hospice caregivers. Ann Clin Psychiatry. 2000; 12(1):19-27. DOI: 10.1023/a:1009070826012. View

Pearlin L, Mullan J, Semple S, Skaff M . Caregiving and the stress process: an overview of concepts and their measures. Gerontologist. 1990; 30(5):583-94. DOI: 10.1093/geront/30.5.583. View

10.

Nijboer C, Tempelaar R, Sanderman R, Triemstra M, Spruijt R, van den Bos G . Cancer and caregiving: the impact on the caregiver's health. Psychooncology. 1998; 7(1):3-13. DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1099-1611(199801/02)7:1<3::AID-PON320>3.0.CO;2-5. View

11.

Pruchno R, Potashnik S . Caregiving spouses. Physical and mental health in perspective. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1989; 37(8):697-705. DOI: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1989.tb02230.x. View

12.

Carter P . Family caregivers' sleep loss and depression over time. Cancer Nurs. 2003; 26(4):253-9. DOI: 10.1097/00002820-200308000-00001. View

13.

Cho M, Dodd M, Lee K, Padilla G, Slaughter R . Self-reported sleep quality in family caregivers of gastric cancer patients who are receiving chemotherapy in Korea. J Cancer Educ. 2006; 21(1 Suppl):S37-41. DOI: 10.1207/s15430154jce2101s_8. View

14.

Christakis N, Allison P . Mortality after the hospitalization of a spouse. N Engl J Med. 2006; 354(7):719-30. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMsa050196. View

15.

Weitzner M, Haley W, Chen H . The family caregiver of the older cancer patient. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am. 2000; 14(1):269-81. DOI: 10.1016/s0889-8588(05)70288-4. View

16.

Ostlund U, Wennman-Larsen A, Persson C, Gustavsson P, Wengstrom Y . Mental health in significant others of patients dying from lung cancer. Psychooncology. 2009; 19(1):29-37. DOI: 10.1002/pon.1433. View

17.

Folkman S . Personal control and stress and coping processes: a theoretical analysis. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1984; 46(4):839-52. DOI: 10.1037//0022-3514.46.4.839. View

18.

Karlin N, Retzlaff P . Psychopathology in caregivers of the chronically ill: personality and clinical syndromes. Hosp J. 1995; 10(3):55-61. DOI: 10.1080/0742-969x.1995.11882799. View

19.

Brazil K, Bainbridge D, Rodriguez C . The stress process in palliative cancer care: a qualitative study on informal caregiving and its implication for the delivery of care. Am J Hosp Palliat Care. 2009; 27(2):111-6. DOI: 10.1177/1049909109350176. View

20.

Given C, Given B, Stommel M, Collins C, King S, Franklin S . The caregiver reaction assessment (CRA) for caregivers to persons with chronic physical and mental impairments. Res Nurs Health. 1992; 15(4):271-83. DOI: 10.1002/nur.4770150406. View