Ulrike Boehmer1, Jeffrey E Stokes2, Angela R Bazzi3, Melissa A Clark4. 1. Department of Community Health Sciences, Boston University School of Public Health, 801 Massachusetts Avenue, Crosstown Center, Boston, MA, 02118, USA. boehmer@bu.edu. 2. Department of Gerontology, University of Massachusetts, Boston, MA, USA. 3. Department of Community Health Sciences, Boston University School of Public Health, 801 Massachusetts Avenue, Crosstown Center, Boston, MA, 02118, USA. 4. Department of Health Services, Policy and Practice, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The number of informal caregivers to cancer survivors is increasing, and limited information is available about caregivers to sexual minority breast cancer survivors. The purpose of this study was to assess dyadic quality of life among sexual minority cancer survivors and their caregivers compared with heterosexual cancer survivors and their caregivers. METHODS: We recruited 167 survivors of non-metastatic breast cancer of different sexual orientations and their caregivers, who were surveyed via telephone after obtaining consent. We used inverse propensity score weighting to account for differences by sexual orientation in age and length of the survivor-caregiver relationship, and simultaneous equation models consistent with the needs for analyzing dyadic data. RESULTS: About 6-7 years after diagnosis, survivors and caregivers reported quality of life scores consistent with population norms, and there were no differences by survivors' sexual orientation. With few exceptions, caregivers' and survivors' quality of life influenced one another directly, and these effects were stronger among sexual minority dyads than heterosexual dyads. CONCLUSIONS: Because of the strength of sexual minority, survivors' and their caregivers' mutual influence on each other's quality of life, interventions, and clinical care for sexual minority breast cancer survivors should consider their caregivers.
PURPOSE: The number of informal caregivers to cancer survivors is increasing, and limited information is available about caregivers to sexual minority breast cancer survivors. The purpose of this study was to assess dyadic quality of life among sexual minority cancer survivors and their caregivers compared with heterosexual cancer survivors and their caregivers. METHODS: We recruited 167 survivors of non-metastatic breast cancer of different sexual orientations and their caregivers, who were surveyed via telephone after obtaining consent. We used inverse propensity score weighting to account for differences by sexual orientation in age and length of the survivor-caregiver relationship, and simultaneous equation models consistent with the needs for analyzing dyadic data. RESULTS: About 6-7 years after diagnosis, survivors and caregivers reported quality of life scores consistent with population norms, and there were no differences by survivors' sexual orientation. With few exceptions, caregivers' and survivors' quality of life influenced one another directly, and these effects were stronger among sexual minority dyads than heterosexual dyads. CONCLUSIONS: Because of the strength of sexual minority, survivors' and their caregivers' mutual influence on each other's quality of life, interventions, and clinical care for sexual minority breast cancer survivors should consider their caregivers.
Entities:
Keywords:
Breast cancer; Caregiving; Dyads; Quality of life; Sexual minorities
Authors: Ulrike Boehmer; Jeffrey E Stokes; Angela R Bazzi; Michael Winter; Melissa A Clark Journal: Psychooncology Date: 2018-07-26 Impact factor: 3.894
Authors: Jessica R Gorman; Karen S Lyons; Jennifer Barsky Reese; Chiara Acquati; Ellie Smith; Julia H Drizin; John M Salsman; Lisa M Flexner; Brandon Hayes-Lattin; S Marie Harvey Journal: Front Psychol Date: 2022-02-04
Authors: Ulrike Boehmer; Al Ozonoff; Michael Winter; Flora Berklein; Jennifer Potter; Kevan L Hartshorn; Kevin C Ward; Rachel M Ceballos; Melissa A Clark Journal: Cancer Date: 2021-07-08 Impact factor: 6.921