Carolina Palacio1,2,3,4, Joaquín T Limonero5,6. 1. Clínica las Américas, Instituto de Cancerología, Carrera 70 #-135, Medellín, Colombia. caropalacio82@hotmail.com. 2. School of Psychology, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. caropalacio82@hotmail.com. 3. Pain and Palliative Care Group, School of Health Sciences, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Medellin, Colombia. caropalacio82@hotmail.com. 4. Research Group on Stress and Health, School of Psychology, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. caropalacio82@hotmail.com. 5. School of Psychology, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. 6. Research Group on Stress and Health, School of Psychology, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Examine the relationship between the positive aspects of care and the personal growth of caregivers of patients with advanced oncological illness. METHODS: This research was a quantitative study with a transversal design. One hundred (100) informal caregivers filled out self-applied questionnaire on resilience, aspects of care, emotional distress, spirituality, and posttraumatic growth. Descriptive statistics were applied to the data, later correlation, and regression, and comparative analyses were conducted. RESULTS: The participants were mainly women (86%) with an average care period of 12 months. The average age was 46.52 years. The highest scores were evidenced in positive aspects of caretaking, spirituality, personal growth, and distress, while the lowest score was seen in questions related to resilience. There was a negative inverse correlation among emotional distress, resilience, spirituality, and posttraumatic growth (p < .05) and a positive correlation among resilience, spirituality, posttraumatic growth, and the positive aspects of caretaking (p < .01). There were significant differences among the items related to emotional distress, resilience, and posttraumatic growth. The linear regression analysis showed that as resilience, spirituality, and the positive aspects of care increased, so did posttraumatic growth. SIGNIFICANT RESULTS: To promote the perception of benefits among caregivers, resilience and the identification of meaning in the caregiving experience of patients with advanced oncological illness can be considered protective factors favoring adaptation and reducing negative moods.
OBJECTIVE: Examine the relationship between the positive aspects of care and the personal growth of caregivers of patients with advanced oncological illness. METHODS: This research was a quantitative study with a transversal design. One hundred (100) informal caregivers filled out self-applied questionnaire on resilience, aspects of care, emotional distress, spirituality, and posttraumatic growth. Descriptive statistics were applied to the data, later correlation, and regression, and comparative analyses were conducted. RESULTS: The participants were mainly women (86%) with an average care period of 12 months. The average age was 46.52 years. The highest scores were evidenced in positive aspects of caretaking, spirituality, personal growth, and distress, while the lowest score was seen in questions related to resilience. There was a negative inverse correlation among emotional distress, resilience, spirituality, and posttraumatic growth (p < .05) and a positive correlation among resilience, spirituality, posttraumatic growth, and the positive aspects of caretaking (p < .01). There were significant differences among the items related to emotional distress, resilience, and posttraumatic growth. The linear regression analysis showed that as resilience, spirituality, and the positive aspects of care increased, so did posttraumatic growth. SIGNIFICANT RESULTS: To promote the perception of benefits among caregivers, resilience and the identification of meaning in the caregiving experience of patients with advanced oncological illness can be considered protective factors favoring adaptation and reducing negative moods.
Entities:
Keywords:
Caregiver; Emotional distress; Personal growth; Positive aspects of care; Resilience; Spirituality