Abstract
The present study: (a) examined the extent of caregiver burden and psychological wellbeing and (b) tested whether social connectedness moderated the association between caregiver burden and psychological symptoms in caregivers of people with cancer. The cross-sectional survey study included 189 cancer caregivers (mean age = 36.19 years, standard deviation = 11.78; 80.4% female). Data were collected on caregiver burden, social connectedness, and depression and anxiety. Moderation analysis was conducted to examine the effect of social connectedness on the relationship between caregiver burden and depression and anxiety. Caregiver burden was positively associated with depression and anxiety symptoms. Controlling for significant demographic and caregiver characteristics, the moderation model showed as perceived social connectedness increased, the relationship between caregiver burden and depression decreased (β = −0.007, se = 0.004, 95% CI: −0.014, 0.000, p = 0.05). By contrast, social connectedness did not moderate the association between caregiver burden and anxiety. Findings have implications for the management of depression in cancer caregivers. Social connectedness appears to provide a protective buffer from the negative impacts of caregiving, providing increased psychological resources to manage the burden associated with caregiving, resulting in lower depression. Research on strategies to improve caregiver wellbeing through enhancing engagement with social networks in ways that improve perceived sense of connectedness with others is warranted.
Highlights
Members and friends often provide vital care that includes practical, physical, psychosocial and financial support to people living with cancer [1,2]
The study hypotheses were partially supported: (a) caregiver burden was positively associated with depression and anxiety symptoms, and (b) after controlling for significant demographic and care-related characteristics, perceived social connectedness significantly moderated the relationship between caregiver burden and depression, such that the effect of burden on depression symptoms was smaller with higher levels of perceived social connectedness
In support of existing research [36,37], the current study revealed that spousal caregivers, and those who lived with the care recipient reported higher caregiver burden and more depression and anxiety symptoms
Summary
Members and friends often provide vital care that includes practical, physical, psychosocial and financial support to people living with cancer [1,2]. With provision of supportive care increasingly shifting from the formal health system to the home, these individuals, often referred to as informal caregivers in the research literature, are increasingly expected to undertake care traditionally delivered by trained providers [3,4]. These often sudden and complex caregiving responsibilities can adversely impact caregivers’. Caregiver burden is typically described as perceived emotional, social, physical, financial, and/or spiritual strain as a result of providing care [8]. In a longitudinal study of communitydwelling caregiver-care recipient dyads, high caregiver burden was associated with greater likelihood of mortality and hospitalization in dependent adults at the 3-year follow-up [11]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
