Influence of caregiving and personality on the stress level of caregivers of cancer patients: Role of social support as a mediating variable

Informal caregivers have always been a source of providing care to the individuals with chronic illness such as cancer. Increasing rate of pediatric cancer has shifted the patients
from hospitals to the home settings. This shift involves the caregivers of pediatric cancer
to face ongoing social and emotional challenges that may result in enduring illness and
caregiving-related stress. Using Stress Process Theory as the foundation for the theoretical framework, the purpose of this research was to measure the level of variables and to examine the correlation and effects of aspects of caregiving, dimensions of personality and social support on the stress of caregivers of cancer patients in Pakistan. It also aimed to measure mediating effect of social support and the strongest predictor of caregiver’s stress. A total of 286 family caregivers were chosen as respondents from eight cancer treatment hospitals. Stratified and simple random sampling technique was utilized for this process. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed in order to find the relationship between independent variables (caregiving and personality), mediating variable (social support) and dependent variable (caregiver’s stress). Findings showed that there were no significant direct relation between aspects of caregiving as well as extraversion, neuroticism and openness personality traits with stress. Whereas, conscientiousness and agreeableness personality traits were significantly related to stress of caregivers. Results also revealed that social support acts as a potential mediator
between aspects of caregiving and stress as well as extraversion, openness, agreeableness
personality traits and stress. Findings also found that agreeableness was the strongest
predictor of stress of caregivers. This study presented new information to researchers and
practitioners to identify strongest predictors of stress in caregivers along the stress
continuum process. It illustrates the distinctive impact of personality and social support on caregiver’s stress. Therefore, helps in developing and implementing effective
interventions to fulfill caregiver’s needs must be enhanced in order to reduce their stress
level and improve their quality of life.