Post-Traumatic Growth among Family Caregivers of Cancer Patients and Its Association with Social Support and Hope

Abstract

Background: Cancer not only is a traumatic experience for the patients, but also can affect the family<br />caregivers. Post-traumatic growth (PTG) refers to positive psychological changes experienced by<br />people as a result of a struggle in dealing with traumatic events in life. Both the patients and their<br />caregivers may experience PTG. The present study aimed to assess the extent of PTG in caregivers of<br />patients with gastrointestinal cancer and to examine the relationship between the PTG dimensions and<br />both the social support (SS) and hope.<br />Methods: The present descriptive correlational study was conducted during May-August 2018 in<br />Shiraz, Iran. The target population included 112 caregivers who visited hospitals affiliated to Shiraz<br />University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. Data collection instruments included a demographic<br />information form, post-traumatic growth inventory, social support appraisals scale, and Miller<br />hope scale. The data were analyzed using the SPSS software (version 23.0). Pstatistically significant.<br />Results: The mean score for PTG, hope, and SS was 75.41±16.49, 190.95±24.20, and 89.10±12.84,<br />respectively. A significant positive correlation was found between PTG and both SS (P<0.001, r=0.59)<br />and hope (P<0.001, r=0.70). The results of the multiple regression analysis showed a significant<br />relationship between PTG, SS, and hope (P<0.001). Hope had a higher effect on PTG (ẞ=0.62)<br />compared to SS (ẞ=0.27).<br />Conclusion: The results showed a good level of PTG among the caregivers and the experience of<br />stressful situations positively affected their psychological condition. The positive change was associated<br />with the perceived SS and hope.