Coping Strategies in Family Caregiver of Patients with Cancer: A Cross-Sectional Study

Yarahmadi, Sajad; Wang, Yu-Nu; Nazari, Omid; Shahverdi, Ali; Gholami, Mohammad; Moosivand, Shakiba

doi:10.22087/ijac.2025.505278.1048

Coping Strategies in Family Caregiver of Patients with Cancer: A Cross-Sectional Study

Document Type : Research

Authors

Sajad Yarahmadi ¹

Yu-Nu Wang ²

Omid Nazari ³

Ali Shahverdi ⁴

Mohammad Gholami ⁵

Shakiba Moosivand ⁴

¹ Lorestan university medical sciences, Khorramabad, Iran

² Department of Nursing and Geriatric and Long-Term Care Research Center, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan, Taiwan

³ School of Nursing and Midwifery, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran

⁴ Student Research Committee, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran

⁵ Social Determinants of Health Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran

10.22087/ijac.2025.505278.1048

Abstract

This descriptive study aimed to evaluate the coping strategies employed by family caregivers of patients with cancer and to investigate the relationship between coping dimensions and demographic variables. This study utilized a cross-sectional design and was conducted between December 2020 and March 2021 in Khorramabad, Iran. This study was a secondary analysis of a larger study. A total of 211 family caregivers were selected using convenience sampling. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and the Brief-COPE scale. The mean total coping score was 74.33 (SD = 9.54), with the highest scores observed in the dimensions of active coping (7.16), acceptance (6.92), planning (6.68), and positive reframing (6.59). Chi-square tests, independent t-tests, and ANOVA revealed no statistically significant associations between coping dimensions and the demographic variables. The findings of this study suggest that family caregivers of patients with cancer predominantly utilize adaptive coping strategies, with the highest scores observed for active coping, acceptance, planning, and positive reframing. In contrast, maladaptive strategies, such as substance use and behavioral disengagement, were the least utilized. No significant associations were found between demographic characteristics and overall coping scores, indicating that caregivers adopt similar coping mechanisms regardless of their backgrounds. In conclusion, these results underscore the importance of strengthening adaptive coping strategies through targeted psychosocial interventions to enhance caregivers' well-being and alleviate the burden of caregiving. Future research should explore the long-term effects of coping strategies and their impact on caregivers' mental health and patient outcomes.

Keywords

Coping strategies

Family Caregiver

Patients with Cancer

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