Comparative Analysis of Quality of Life and Attachment Style among Cancer and Dementia Informal Caregivers

Abstract

To record and compare the quality of life and attachment style of dementia and cancer caregivers. This is a comparative prospective cross sectional study. Participants were 45 caregivers of patients with cancer and 45 caregivers of patients with dementia. The study was conducted at a University Hospital and from a Day Centre of Alzheimer Disease and related disorders Association in Athens. Quality of caregivers’ life was measured by the Short Form 36 Health Survey Questionnaire (SF-36) and caregivers’ attachment was evaluated by the Experience in Close Relationships—Short Form (ECR). Caregivers’ age (cancer caregivers’ age Mean = 52.4 and SD ± 12.21, dementia caregivers’ age Mean = 58.4 and SD ± 12.8) differed significantly across diagnostic groups (p < 0.005). Dementia patients were older than cancer patients (dementia patients’ age Mean = 76.8, cancer patients’ age Mean = 65, p < 0.001). Statistically significant difference was found between two groups regarding the duration of the disease. The duration of disease in dementia patients (Mean = 3.14 years) was significantly longer (p = 0.014) than in cancer patients (Mean = 1.23 years). Subscale scores in both instruments (SF-36 and ECR), showed no statistically significant differentiation. Our data showed no statistically significant differentiation in any subscale between cancer and dementia caregivers. However, both caregiver groups noticed remarkably low levels of mental health.