Abstract
Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is a demanding treatment with well-established medical and psychosocial sequelae. Impacts on significant others are tremendous. Using an unfiltered qualitative approach, we asked spouses (n = 15) of HCT recipients to talk about their thoughts and feelings regarding the transplantation and their role as caregiver. Recordings were transcribed and independently coded to identify recurrent patterns. Caregivers mentioned both negative and positive psychological impacts of HCT, but the number of negative impacts was greater: 164 versus 34 instances. The most frequently mentioned negative psychological impacts were anxiety/worry (30 instances), fear (20 instances), feeling overloaded/overwhelmed (19 instances), and uncertainty (17 instances). Other emergent categories were roles/responsibilities (49 instances) such as parenting, work, and treatment-related tasks, and coping strategies (55 instances). The latter included both adaptive and maladaptive strategies (75% and 25%, respectively). Despite the preponderance of negatively toned thoughts and feelings, signs of adjustment emerged, with mentions of positive psychological states, such as optimism and gratitude, and adaptive coping strategies, such as active coping, use of emotional support, and self-care. Interventions intended to facilitate adaptation to the HCT experience should involve strategies to help caregivers manage symptoms of distress and promote adaptive coping.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Journal | Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation |
| DOIs | |
| State | Accepted/In press - Jan 1 2019 |
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Keywords
- Caregiver
- Coping
- Hematopoietic cell transplantation
- Qualitative
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Hematology
- Transplantation
Cite this
Psychological Impacts and Ways of Coping Reported by Spousal Caregivers of Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Recipients : A Qualitative Analysis. / Langer, Shelby L.; Yi, Jean C.; Chi, Nai Ching; Lindhorst, Taryn.
In: Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, 01.01.2019.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Psychological Impacts and Ways of Coping Reported by Spousal Caregivers of Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Recipients
T2 - A Qualitative Analysis
AU - Langer, Shelby L.
AU - Yi, Jean C.
AU - Chi, Nai Ching
AU - Lindhorst, Taryn
PY - 2019/1/1
Y1 - 2019/1/1
N2 - Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is a demanding treatment with well-established medical and psychosocial sequelae. Impacts on significant others are tremendous. Using an unfiltered qualitative approach, we asked spouses (n = 15) of HCT recipients to talk about their thoughts and feelings regarding the transplantation and their role as caregiver. Recordings were transcribed and independently coded to identify recurrent patterns. Caregivers mentioned both negative and positive psychological impacts of HCT, but the number of negative impacts was greater: 164 versus 34 instances. The most frequently mentioned negative psychological impacts were anxiety/worry (30 instances), fear (20 instances), feeling overloaded/overwhelmed (19 instances), and uncertainty (17 instances). Other emergent categories were roles/responsibilities (49 instances) such as parenting, work, and treatment-related tasks, and coping strategies (55 instances). The latter included both adaptive and maladaptive strategies (75% and 25%, respectively). Despite the preponderance of negatively toned thoughts and feelings, signs of adjustment emerged, with mentions of positive psychological states, such as optimism and gratitude, and adaptive coping strategies, such as active coping, use of emotional support, and self-care. Interventions intended to facilitate adaptation to the HCT experience should involve strategies to help caregivers manage symptoms of distress and promote adaptive coping.
AB - Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is a demanding treatment with well-established medical and psychosocial sequelae. Impacts on significant others are tremendous. Using an unfiltered qualitative approach, we asked spouses (n = 15) of HCT recipients to talk about their thoughts and feelings regarding the transplantation and their role as caregiver. Recordings were transcribed and independently coded to identify recurrent patterns. Caregivers mentioned both negative and positive psychological impacts of HCT, but the number of negative impacts was greater: 164 versus 34 instances. The most frequently mentioned negative psychological impacts were anxiety/worry (30 instances), fear (20 instances), feeling overloaded/overwhelmed (19 instances), and uncertainty (17 instances). Other emergent categories were roles/responsibilities (49 instances) such as parenting, work, and treatment-related tasks, and coping strategies (55 instances). The latter included both adaptive and maladaptive strategies (75% and 25%, respectively). Despite the preponderance of negatively toned thoughts and feelings, signs of adjustment emerged, with mentions of positive psychological states, such as optimism and gratitude, and adaptive coping strategies, such as active coping, use of emotional support, and self-care. Interventions intended to facilitate adaptation to the HCT experience should involve strategies to help caregivers manage symptoms of distress and promote adaptive coping.
KW - Caregiver
KW - Coping
KW - Hematopoietic cell transplantation
KW - Qualitative
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85076624830&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85076624830&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.bbmt.2019.11.023
DO - 10.1016/j.bbmt.2019.11.023
M3 - Article
C2 - 31760133
AN - SCOPUS:85076624830
JO - Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation
JF - Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation
SN - 1083-8791
ER -