Stress and coping in caregivers of patients awaiting solid organ transplantation.

Journal Article (Journal Article)

Caregivers for patients undergoing solid organ transplantation play an essential role in the process of transplantation. However, little is known about stress and coping among these caregivers. Six hundred and twenty-one primary caregivers of potential candidates for lung (n = 317), liver (n = 147), heart (n = 115), and/or kidney (n = 42) transplantation completed a psychometric test battery at the time of the candidate's initial pre-transplant psychosocial evaluation. Caregivers were generally well adjusted, with only 17% exhibiting clinical symptoms of depression (Beck Depression Inventory-II score >13) and 13% reporting clinical levels of anxiety (State Trait Anxiety Inventory score >48). Greater caregiver burden and negative coping styles were associated with higher levels of depression. Greater objective burden and avoidant coping were associated with higher levels of anxiety. Caregivers evidenced a high degree of socially desirable (i.e., defensive) responding, which may reflect a deliberate effort to minimize fears or worries so as to not jeopardize patients' listing status.

Full Text

Duke Authors

Cited Authors

  • Goetzinger, AM; Blumenthal, JA; O'Hayer, CV; Babyak, MA; Hoffman, BM; Ong, L; Davis, RD; Smith, SR; Rogers, JG; Milano, CA; Smith, AD; Kuo, PC; Palmer, SM

Published Date

  • 2012

Published In

Volume / Issue

  • 26 / 1

Start / End Page

  • 97 - 104

PubMed ID

  • 21395692

Pubmed Central ID

  • PMC3635131

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1399-0012

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1111/j.1399-0012.2011.01431.x

Language

  • eng

Conference Location

  • Denmark