Skip to main content
Log in

Correlates of Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms Among the Caregivers of Leukemic Children

  • Published:
Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study aims to reveal correlates of depressive and anxiety symptoms among the Turkish caregivers of leukemic children (n = 100). The effects of demographic variables, satisfaction of the basic needs, performance on daily activities, and coping strategies on outcome variables were investigated by hierarchical regression. Accordingly, older age, lower reported income, higher number of other children to be looked after, lower levels of satisfaction of basic needs, and more use of emotion focused coping were associated with higher levels of both depressive and anxiety symptoms. Moreover, caregivers with lower education reported more depressive symptoms, and higher performance on daily activities predicted more anxiety symptoms.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Barakat, L. P., Patterson, C. A., Tarazy, R. A., & Ely, E. (2007). Disease-related parenting stress in two sickle cell disease caregiver samples: Preschool and adolescent. Families, Systems & Health, 25, 147–165.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barbarin, O. A., & Chesler, M. (1986). The medical context of parental coping with childhood cancer. American Journal of Community Psychology, 14, 221–235.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barrera, M., D’agostino, N. M., Gibson, J., Gilbert, T., Weksberg, R., & Malkin, D. (2004). Predictors and mediators of psychological adjustment in mothers of children newly diagnosed with cancer. Psycho-Oncology, 13, 630–641.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Baskin, C. H., Forehand, R., & Saylor, C. (1985). Predictors of psychological adjustment in mothers of children with cancer. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, 3, 43–54.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beck, A. T., Epstein, N., Brown, G., & Streer, R. A. (1988). An inventory for measuring clinical anxiety: Psychometric properties. Journal of Consulting Clinical Psychology, 56, 893–897.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Beck, A. T., Ward, C. H., Mendelson, M., Mock, J., & Erbaugh, J. (1961). An inventory for measuring depression. Archives of General Psychiatry, 4, 561–571.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ben-Zur, H. (2005). Coping, distress, and life events in a community sample. International Journal of Stress Management, 12, 188–196.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berg-Weger, M., Rubio, D. M., & Tebb, S. S. (2000). The Caregiver Well-being Scale revisited. Health and Social Work, 25, 255–263.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bristol, M. M., Gallagher, J. J., & Schopler, E. (1988). Mothers and fathers of young developmentally disabled and nondisabled boys: Adaptation and spousal support. Developmental Psychology, 24, 441–451.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clark, L. A., & Watson, D. (1991). Tripartite model of anxiety and depression: Psychometric evidence and taxonomic implications. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 100, 316–336.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Demirtepe, D., & Bozo, Ö. (2009). Caregiver Well-being Scale: A study of validity and reliability. Turkish Psychological Articles, 12, 28–37.

    Google Scholar 

  • Drotar, D., Witherspoon, D. O., Zebracki, K., & Peterson, C. C. (2006). Psychological interventions in childhood chronic illness. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Earle, E. A., Clarke, S. A., Eiser, C., & Sheppard, L. (2006). Building a new normality: Mothers’ experiences of caring for a child with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Child: Care, Health and Development, 33, 155–160.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elliott, T. R., & Shewchuk, R. M. (2003). Social problem solving abilities and distress among family members assuming a caregiving role. British Journal of Health Psychology, 8, 149–163.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Folkman, S. (1984). Personal control and stress and coping processes: A theoretical analysis. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 46, 839–852.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Folkman, S., & Lazarus, R. S. (1980). An analysis of coping in a middle-aged community sample. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 21, 219–239.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fuemmeler, B. F., Mullins, L. L., Pelt, J. V., Carpentier, M. Y., & Parkhurst, J. (2005). Posttraumatic stress symptoms and distress among parents of children with cancer. Children’s Health Care, 34, 289–303.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gençöz, T. (2002). Discriminant validity of low positive affect: Is it specific to depression? Personality and Individual Differences, 32, 991–999.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gençöz, F., Gençöz, T., & Bozo, Ö. (2006). Hierarchical dimensions of coping styles: A study conducted with Turkish university students. Social Behavior and Personality, 34, 525–534.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guck, T. P., Kavan, M. G., Elsasser, G. N., & Barone, E. J. (2001). Assessment and treatment of depression following myocardial infarction. American Family Physician, 64, 641–656.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hamilton, M. (1960). A rating scale for depression. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, 23, 56–62.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hisli, N. (1988). A study on the validity of Beck Depression Inventory. Turkish Journal of Psychology, 22, 118–123.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoeksta-Weebers, J. M., Jaspers, J., Klip, E., & Kamps, W. A. (2000). Factors contributing to the psychological adjustment of parents of paediatric cancer patients. In L. Baider, C. L. Cooper, & A. De-Nour (Eds.), Cancer and the family (pp. 257–271). New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holmes, A. M., & Deb, P. (2003). The effect of chronic illness on the psychological health of family members. Journal of Mental Health Policy and Economics, 6, 13–22.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Keene, N. (2002). Childhood leukemia: A guide for families, friends and caregivers (3rd ed.). Sebastopol: O’Reilly.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim, Y., Baker, F., Spillers, R. L., & Wellisch, D. K. (2006). Psychological adjustment of cancer caregivers with multiple roles. Psycho-Oncology, 15, 795–804.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lipman, R. S. (1982). Differentiating anxiety and depression in anxiety disorders: Use of rating scales. Psychopharmacology Bulletin, 18, 69–77.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lösev (Foundation for Children with Leukemia). (n.d.). What is leukemia? Retrieved December 15, 2006, from http://www.losev.org.tr/turkce/t-losemi2.html.

  • Madden, S. J., Hastings, R. P., & Hoff, W. V. (2002). Psychological adjustment in children with end stage renal disease: The impact of maternal stress and coping. Child: Care, Health and Development, 28, 323–330.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Matthews, B. A., Baker, F., & Spillers, R. E. (2003). Family caregivers and indicators of cancer-related distress. Psychology, Health and Medicine, 8, 45–57.

    Google Scholar 

  • Palmer, E. A. (2001). Family caregiver experiences with asthma in school-age children. Pediatric Nursing, 27, 75–82.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Patrick, J. H., & Hayden, J. M. (1999). Neuroticism, coping strategies, and negative well-being among caregivers. Psychology and Aging, 14, 273–283.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pearlin, L. I., Mullan, J. T., Semple, S. J., & Skaff, M. M. (1990). Caregiving and the stress process: An overview of concepts and their measures. Gerontologist, 30, 583–594.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Penley, J. A., Tomaka, J., & Wiebe, J. S. (2002). The association of coping to physical and psychological health outcomes: A meta-analytic review. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 25, 551–603.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pinquart, M., & Sörensen, S. (2007). Correlates of physical health of informal caregivers: A meta-analysis. Journal of Gerontology, 62B, 126–137.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pruchno, R. A., & Resch, N. L. (1989). Coping with caregiving: Mental health effects. Psychology and Aging, 14, 454–463.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Quittner, A. L., Espelage, D. L., Opipari, L. C., Carter, B., & Eid, N. (1998). Role strain in couples with and without a child with a chronic illness: Associations with marital satisfaction, intimacy and daily mood. Health Psychology, 17, 112–124.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rocha-Garcia, A., Rio, A. A., Hernandez-Pena, P., Martinez-Garcia, M. D. C., Marin-Palomares, M., & Lazcana-Ponce, E. (2003). The emotional response of families to children with leukemia at the lower socio-economic level in central Mexico: A preliminary report. Psycho-Oncology, 12, 78–90.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Savaşır, I., & Şahin, N. H. (1997). Assessment in cognitive behavior therapies: Frequently used scales. Ankara: Turkish Psychological Association Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schulz, R., & Beach, S. R. (1999). Caregiving as a risk factor for mortality: The caregiver health effects study. JAMA, 282, 2215–2219.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Siva, A. N. (1991). Coping with stress, learned powerfulness and depression among infertile people. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.

  • Svavarsdottir, E. K. (2005). Caring for a child with cancer: A longitudinal perspective. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 50, 153–161.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tegin, B. (1980). Cognitive distortions in depression: An investigation based on Beck model. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.

  • Ulusoy, M., Şahin, N. H., & Erkmen, H. (1998). Turkish version of the Beck Anxiety Inventory: Psychometric properties. Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy, 12, 163–172.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vella-Brodrick, D. A., & Allen, F. C. (1995). Development and psychometric validation of the Mental, Physical, and Spiritual Well-being Scale. Psychological Reports, 77, 659–674.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vitaliano, P. P., Young, H. M., & Zhang, J. (2004). Is caregiving a risk factor for illness? Current Directions in Psychological Science, 13, 13–16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wittrock, D. A., Larson, L. S., & Sandgren, A. K. (1994). When a child is diagnosed with cancer. II. Parental coping, psychological adjustment, and relationships with medical personnel. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, 12, 17–32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yun, Y. H., Rhee, Y. S., Kang, I. O., Lee, J. S., Bang, S. M., Lee, W. S., et al. (2005). Economic burdens and quality of life of family caregivers of cancer patients. Oncology, 68, 107–114.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Özlem Bozo.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Demirtepe-Saygılı, D., Bozo, Ö. Correlates of Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms Among the Caregivers of Leukemic Children. J Clin Psychol Med Settings 18, 46–54 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10880-011-9229-4

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10880-011-9229-4

Keywords

Navigation