Secondary stress and coping experiences of partners of persons with oral cancer: A descriptive study

The purpose of this study was to explore the existence of Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS) in caregivers of persons with oral cancer, describe the nature of the experience of STS and its relationship to other variables of interest, and generate substantive contributions to emerging theory. Congruent with the purpose of the research, the first aim of the study was to determine the extent to which the selected demographic factors of age, gender, marital status, stage of partner’s cancer, length of time in caregiving role, Compassion Satisfaction (CS), and Compassion Fatigue (CF) explained a caregiver’s biopsychosocial well-being as measured by the Life Status Review (LSR) subscales in a sample of caregivers of persons with oral cancer. The second aim of the study was to determine the extent to which the selected demographic variables of age, gender, marital status, stage of partner’s cancer, length of time in caregiving role, CS, and CF explained a caregiver’s ability to cope as measured by the Coping Skills Test Abridged (CST-A). Self-identified caregivers of persons with oral cancer (n=86) participated in the study. The theoretical underpinning of the study was Constructivist Self-Development Theory (CSDT), a framework that viewed caregiving for persons with oral cancer through the lens of a traumatic experience. Because of the contemporary nature of this topic and concomitant dearth of existing nursing research regarding STS in caregivers of persons with oral cancer, the quantitative methodological approach of descriptive, correlational survey design was utilized. Study findings revealed that caregivers who reported increased CS and moderate Burnout were at risk for the development of STS symptoms as evidenced by increased CF. Younger caregivers with lower CS scores and higher Burnout and CF scores were more likely to have lower Medical Status, Health/Wellness, Financial Situation, Housing/Transportation, Employment/School, and Self/Social/ Interpersonal scores on the LSR than their counterparts. Conversely, older caregivers with higher CS, lower Burnout, and lower CF scores were more likely to have higher Health/Wellness, Financial Situation, Housing/Transportation, Employment/School, and Self/Social/Interpersonal scores on the LSR than their counterparts. The addition of one open-ended question yielded abundant and rich subjective data that supported the findings and provided correlation and elaboration on the phenomena of CS, Burnout, and CF as well as a self-reported commentary on factors that positively and negatively impacted the caregiving experience of the person with oral cancer.\r\n \r\n

Name thesis:degree_name

PhD

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctoral

Grantor

The University of Texas Medical Branch

Year dc:date.issued

2010

Author dc:creator

• Kimberly Crocker Crowther

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Nonie Mendias, PhD, RN

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Yolanda Davila, PhD, RN
• Mary Duffy, PhD, RN
• Ernestine Cuellar, PhD, RN
• Alice Hill, PhD, RN

• secondary traumatic stress oral cancer
• caregivers of persons with oral cancer

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright © is held by the author. Presentation of this material on the TDL web site by The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston was made possible under a limited license grant from the author who has retained all copyrights in the works.

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Dc Identifier Other

etd-06212010-115754

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:utmb-ir.tdl.org:2152.3/123