The Impact of Caregiving Stressors on Cancer Caregivers' Well-Being

Aanya Raghunath

Abstract: This study examines the impact of various caregiving stressors on cancer caregivers. It utilises a secondary data set from the National Alliance for Caregiving to understand the impact of loneliness, burden, choice in caregiving, and health status on caregivers. After analysing the data set using different regressions, multiple trends were found. We found that both ADLs (Activities of Daily living) and IADLs (Instrumental Activities of Daily Living) were significant predictors of caregiver burden. Additionally, the study found that burden positively predicted physical strain and the relationship between them was moderated by choice. Further, we observed that loneliness had a positive relationship with the caregivers? ability to manage their own health and this relationship was mediated by emotional stress. Lastly, the impact of caregiving on caregivers? health status at the time of caregiving was found to be negative and significant.

Keywords: caregiving stress, cancer caregivers, loneliness impact, caregiver burden, health status