ASPO Abstracts

A Qualitative Inquiry of Cancer Caregiving during Young Adulthood: Challenges, Responsibilities, Social Support, and Teamwork

Authors: Austin R. Waters, MSPH, Lisa H. Gren PhD, MSPH, Charles R. Rogers, PhD, MPH, MS, MCHES, Anne C. Kirchhoff, PhD, MPH, Echo L. Warner, PhD, MPH

Category: Behavioral Science & Health Communication
Conference Year: 2021

Abstract Body:
Purpose: Young adult cancer caregivers (YACC) may experience heightened caregiver burden because they take on caregiving during a challenging time of life, thus, the purpose of this qualitative study was to describe YACC experiences, burden, and social support in developmental context. Methods: Grounded by the Cancer Family Caregiving Experience Model and the Stress and Coping Social Support Theory, semi-structured interviews were conducted with English speaking cancer caregivers (ages 18-39). Participants were recruited in-person and via social media. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and quality checked. Inductive analysis was applied to describe YACC perceptions of caregiving, while YACC social networks and social support were deductively coded by Stress and Coping Social Support Theory tenants. Results: YACC (N=34) were primarily in the age range of 15-29 years (38.2%), female (70.6%), non-Hispanic white (91.2%), and heterosexual (97.1%). Most YACC were college graduates (53.0%), spouses/partners (53.0%), and caring for someone other than the patient (67.6%). YACC often did not view themselves as cancer caregivers; instead, they viewed the caregiving activities they performed as an extension of their existing relationship with the patient. YACC developmental-specific responsibilities (e.g., education, establishing a career, having children) often conflicted with their caregiving responsibilities and contributed to emotional burden. In response, YACC often formed caregiver teams—consisting of family, friends, and community members—to assist the YACC and patient with various needs. Of the five social support types, YACC most often reported receiving emotional (e.g., talking through frustrations) and instrumental (e.g., financial aid) support from their social network. Conclusions: Expanding theory to encapsulate developmental context of young adulthood may be bring attention to the conflict between caregiving and young adult development that YACC often experience. YACC may benefit from targeted supportive services tailored to their developmental age and unique needs.

Keywords: Cancer Caregiving, Young Adult