The Mediational Role of Burden and Perceived Stress in Subjective Memory Complaints in Informal Cancer Caregivers.

Marta Ramos-Campos,Rosa Redolat,Patricia Mesa-Gresa

doi:10.3390/ijerph17072190

Abstract

The role of informal caregiver of cancer patients is considered a situation of chronic stress that could have impact on cognitive functioning. Our aim was to evaluate differences in perceived stress, subjective memory complaints, self-esteem, and resilience between caregivers and non-caregivers, as well as the possible mediational role of burden in caregivers. The sample was composed of 60 participants divided into two groups: (1) Primary informal caregivers of a relative with cancer (CCG) (n = 34); and (2) non-caregiver control subjects (Non-CG) (n = 26). All participants were evaluated through a battery of tests: Socio-demographic questionnaire, subjective memory complaints questionnaire (MFE-30), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, resilience (CD-RISC-10), and perceived stress scale (PSS). The CCG group also completed the Zarit burden interview. Results indicated that CCG displayed higher scores than Non-CG in MFE-30 (p = 0.000) and PSS (p = 0.005). In the CCG group, Pearson correlations indicated that PSS showed a negative relationship with resilience (p = 0.000) and self-esteem (p = 0.002) and positive correlation with caregiver’s burden (p = 0.015). In conclusion, CCG displayed higher number of subjective memory complaints and higher perceived stress than Non-CG, whereas no significant differences were obtained on self-esteem and resilience. These results could aid in designing new intervention strategies aimed to diminish stress, burden, or cognitive effects in informal caregivers of cancer patients.

Highlights

Cancer is a disease that exerts a great psychological impact on patients and those around them [1,2].Family members and people close to cancer patients suffer their own adaptation process with many emotional and functional disturbances in their daily lives
Current research has addressed some positive aspects associated with the task of taking care of cancer patients, including effects as gains or benefits related to the caregiving task [10,11,12,13]
A t-test was performed with the age variable, and it was observed that there were no significant differences between the GCC and non-caregiver control subjects (Non-CG) group for this variable

Summary

Introduction

Cancer is a disease that exerts a great psychological impact on patients and those around them [1,2].Family members and people close to cancer patients suffer their own adaptation process with many emotional and functional disturbances in their daily lives. The role of the informal caregiver has been related to a situation of chronic stress that produces harmful effects on physical and mental health [3,4] and can be associated with cognitive impairment [5]. Different studies have observed that caregivers display higher rates of physical and psychological problems [3] and higher incidence of anxiety, depression, and hospitalizations than the general population [6,7,8]. These consequences have been observed in diverse samples [7,9]. Current research has addressed some positive aspects associated with the task of taking care of cancer patients, including effects as gains or benefits related to the caregiving task [10,11,12,13]

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Conclusion