Benefit Finding and Quality of Life in Caregivers of Childhood Cancer Survivors

Abstract

Background: Benefit finding, or finding positive outcomes in the face of adversity, may play a role in predicting quality of life (QoL) among caregivers, but mixed results suggest that other factors may moderate this relationship. Objective: This study examined demographic and psychosocial moderators of the association between benefit finding and QoL among caregivers of childhood cancer survivors. Methods: Caregivers of childhood cancer survivors (n = 83) completed measures of benefit finding, QoL, coping, optimism, social support, caregiving demand, posttraumatic stress, and demographics. Results: The relationship between benefit finding and QoL was moderated by caregiver age, marital status, socioeconomic status, geographic location, acceptance and emotion-focused coping, optimism, caregiving demand, and posttraumatic stress. Benefit finding was more strongly related to QoL among caregivers with fewer demographic/psychosocial resources. Conclusions: Results suggest that finding benefits in the cancer experience may have a greater positive impact for caregivers with relatively fewer demographic and psychosocial resources and may have less of an impact for caregivers with relatively greater resources. Findings further point to the complex nature of QoL among caregivers of childhood cancer survivors. Implications for Practice: Results may aid clinicians in identifying caregivers at particular risk for low QoL. They may be counseled to find benefits in their experience or provided with resources to strengthen other factors that impact QoL.