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Cancer Caregiving in the United States pp 39–62Cite as

The Emotional Responses of Family Caregivers: Living with Cancer and Helping Families Cope

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Part of the book series: Caregiving: Research • Practice • Policy ((CARE))

Abstract

In this chapter, a comprehensive synthesis of the literature describing the impact of cancer on family caregivers is presented. Family caregiving is defined broadly. Factors that identify characteristics of caregivers of patients with cancer who are at risk for emotional distress are described and need to be taken into account when planning interventions. A review of educational, psychoeducational, support, and skill building interventions targeted at the patient and family caregiver as a dyad and to family caregivers alone to help caregivers cope with their loved one’s cancer and its consequences are summarized. The chapter concludes with recommendations for researchers, policy makers, clinicians, and educators.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Nursing, Yale University, 100 Church Street South, 06536-0740, New Haven, CT, USA

    Ruth McCorkle

  2. School of Nursing, Michigan State University, B515-C West Fee Hall, 48824-1315, East Lansing, MI, USA

    Barbara Given

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  1. Ruth McCorkle
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Correspondence to Ruth McCorkle .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, Kentucky, USA

    Ronda C. Talley

  2. School of Nursing, Yale University, New Haven, USA

    Ruth McCorkle

  3. Department of Behavioral Science, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer, Houston, USA

    Walter F. Baile

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McCorkle, R., Given, B. (2012). The Emotional Responses of Family Caregivers: Living with Cancer and Helping Families Cope. In: Talley, R., McCorkle, R., Baile, W. (eds) Cancer Caregiving in the United States. Caregiving: Research • Practice • Policy. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3154-1_3

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