Examining psychosocial vulnerability in caregivers of individuals with a chronic haematological malignancy: A cross sectional survey

Purpose

To investigate psychosocial vulnerability in informal caregivers of chronic haematological cancer patients and determine the level of psychosocial vulnerability among carers of people living with a chronic haematological malignancy (CHM).

Methods

An international cross – sectional study including caregivers of individuals with a chronic haematological cancer (n = 64) from Ireland (n = 29), Australia (n = 21), the UK (n = 4), the USA (n = 4), and India (n = 6). Caregivers completed scales for loneliness, resilience, stress and caregiver strain using the UCLA Loneliness scale, Brief Resilience scale, Perceived Stress scale and Modified Caregiver Strain Index scale. Descriptive statistics and non-parametric techniques were used.

Results

The results show that younger carers (aged between 18 and 40) report higher levels of loneliness, stress and caregiver strain. Carers who have left their paid employment due to caregiving and are in receipt of carers’ allowance or social welfare report high levels of loneliness and caregiver strain. Lower stress levels were reported in those who received paid professional caring support. Finally, higher levels of loneliness in carers were associated with the patient currently being on some form of treatment and higher levels of caregiver strain were associated with caring for someone for more than 8 h per day and having all social, mental, and financial areas of life affected.

Conclusion

Caregivers of patients with chronic haematological cancers experience psychosocial vulnerability, which is associated with their age, socioeconomic status, gender and health and wellbeing.