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Depressive symptoms among caregivers of colorectal cancer patients during the first year since diagnosis: a longitudinal investigation
Author(s) -
Kim Youngmee,
Carver Charles S.,
RochaLima Caio,
Shaffer Kelly M.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
psycho‐oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.41
H-Index - 137
eISSN - 1099-1611
pISSN - 1057-9249
DOI - 10.1002/pon.2100
Subject(s) - demographics , ethnic group , social support , colorectal cancer , depressive symptoms , longitudinal study , medicine , clinical psychology , family caregivers , cancer , depression (economics) , gerontology , psychology , psychiatry , anxiety , demography , psychotherapist , pathology , sociology , anthropology , economics , macroeconomics
Objective Few studies have examined prospectively and longitudinally depressive symptoms of family caregivers who provide care to colorectal cancer patients, and fewer have addressed ethnic minorities in this regard. This study investigated the relations of social support and caregiving stress with caregivers' depressive symptoms during the first year since the relative's diagnosis, as well as the role of ethnicity in such relations. Methods Seventy‐nine caregivers provided complete data at 2 months (T1), 6 months (T2), and 12 months (T3) after their relative's cancer diagnosis. Demographics and caregiving experiences were measured at T1. Depressive symptoms were assessed at T1 through T3. Results Greater caregiving stress and lack of social support were significant predictors of greater depressive symptoms. The adverse effect of caregiving stress was more pronounced among African American caregivers, whereas the beneficial effect of social support was more pronounced among White caregivers. Conclusions The findings highlight the importance of both caregiving stress and lack of social support early in caregivership. Findings also suggest that caregivers may benefit from programs tailored for their ethnicity. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.