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Cited by 109Nursing care and researchCancer survivorship and careFamily Support in Illness

The impact of coping strategies of cancer caregivers on psychophysiological outcomes: an integrative review

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Teixeira, Ricardo João, Applebaum, Allison J., Bhatia, Sangeeta, Brandão, Tânia·2018·Psychology Research and Behavior Management
DOI 10.2147/prbm.s164946PMC PMC5973462
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Abstract

PURPOSE: A growing number of studies have explored the psychosocial burden experienced by cancer caregivers, but less attention has been given to the psychophysiological impact of caregiving and the impact of caregivers' coping strategies on this association. This paper reviews existing research on the processes underlying distress experienced by cancer caregivers, with a specific focus on the role of coping strategies on psychophysiological correlates of burden. METHODS: A broad literature search was conducted in health-related databases namely MEDLINE, Science Citations Index Expanded, Scopus, and PsycINFO, using relevant search terms. All types of studies published in English were considered for inclusion. RESULTS: We found that cancer caregiving was related to increased blood pressure, dysregulation of autonomic nervous system, hypothalamic-pituitary-axis dysregulation, immune changes, and poor health-related behaviors. We also found that problem-focused coping was associated with decreased caregiver burden, decreased depression, and better adjustment, while emotion-focused coping was related to higher levels of posttraumatic growth and psychological distress. The way coping impacts psychophysiological correlates of burden, however, remains unexplored. CONCLUSION: A better understanding of the psychophysiological elements of caregiver burden is needed. We propose a model that attends specifically to factors that may impact psychophysiological correlates of burden among cancer caregivers. Based on the proposed model, psychosocial interventions that specifically target caregivers' coping and emotion regulation skills, family functioning, and self-care are endemic to the preservation of the health and well-being of this vulnerable population.

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Authors
Teixeira, R. J., Applebaum, A. J., Bhatia, S., & Brandão, T.
Affiliations
  • Cooperativa de Ensino Superior Politécnico e Universitário (PT)
  • Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (US)
  • University of Delhi (IN)
  • Autonomous University of Lisbon (PT)
Corresponding author
Teixeira, Ricardo João
ORCID
Venue
Psychology Research and Behavior Management
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Published
2018-05
Volume
Volume 11
Pages
207-215
ISSN
1179-1578 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.2147/prbm.s164946
PMC
PMC5973462
OpenAlex
W2803658054
Cited by
109
References
81
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 2
FWCI
2.23
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Psychology Research and Behavior Management (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Repositório Institucional da Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa (Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • Dove Medical Press (Taylor and Francis Group) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • Portuguese National Funding Agency for Science, Research and Technology (RCAAP Project by FCT) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Funders
National Cancer Institute (P30CA008748)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › Pharmacy › Nursing care and research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Family Support in Illness
Keywords
cancer caregivers, coping strategies, caregiver burden, problem-focused coping, emotion-focused coping, posttraumatic growth, psychological distress, depression, autonomic dysfunction, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, immune function, blood pressure, health behavior, family functioning, self-care, psychosocial interventions

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