The relationship between the psychological resilience of caregivers of cancer patients and their quality of life

This study is a descriptive and correlational research aimed at determining the relationship between psychological resilience and quality of life in caregivers of cancer patients. The sample of the study consisted of 156 caregivers of cancer patients who volunteered to participate in the study and were receiving care at Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University Hospital and Tokat State Hospital Palliative Care Application and Research Center, Palliative Care, Internal Medicine and Surgical Clinics, and the Chemotherapy Unit. Data were collected face-to-face between November 15, 2023, and May 15, 2024. The data collection tools included a Personal Information Form, the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), and the Family Version of the Quality of Life Scale in Cancer (FQOLC). Data were analyzed using SPSS for Windows version 25.0. Descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, minimum, maximum, median, mean, and standard deviation were used. To assess normality, skewness and kurtosis values (+1, -1) were examined. For normally distributed data, parametric tests including independent samples t-test, One-Way ANOVA, and post-hoc tests such as Tukey HSD and Tamhane's were used. Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to examine the relationships between variables. A 95% confidence interval and a significance level of p<0.05 were used in all statistical tests. The mean age of caregivers was 47.18±15.09; 62.8% were female, 76.3% were married, 47.4% had completed primary education, 44.9% resided in urban areas, 80.8% had children, and 37.8% had three or more children. Additionally, 75.6% had social security, 51.9% were unemployed, and 43.6% reported that their income was equal to their expenses. The caregivers' mean BRS score was 18.10±4.89, with 71.8% having a moderate level of psychological resilience. The subscale scores of the FQOLC were as follows: Psychological Health – 67.87±16.09, Physical Health – 34.88±13.62, Approach to Diagnosis – 19.03±9.93, Support and Economic Impact – 14.49±6.44, with a total score of 136.28±31.07. A positive correlation was found between caregivers' psychological resilience and their overall quality of life and its subdimensions. Significant relationships were identified between psychological resilience and quality of life based on caregivers' age, gender, education level, income status, and health status. Male caregivers were found to have higher levels of psychological resilience and quality of life compared to females. As the number of children increased, psychological resilience decreased, and those without social security had lower levels of resilience. Caregivers with physical health issues had lower levels of psychological resilience and quality of life. Those experiencing financial problems and social life changes during the caregiving process also showed reduced levels of psychological resilience and quality of life. In conclusion, as caregivers' psychological resilience increases, their quality of life improves. Recommendations: Measures can be taken to improve caregivers' social security and financial situations to improve their psychological resilience and quality of life. Additionally, psychological support programs and training can be organized to reduce the negative impacts experienced regarding caregiving time and caregiver responsibilities. Keywords: Cancer, Caregiver, Psychological Resilience, Quality of Life.