The relationship among background characteristics, purpose in life, and caregiving demands on perceived health of spouse caregivers

Little is known about the impact on the family at home of managing the final course of cancer. Research to date has focused on the negative impact of physical caregiving on the caregiver's physical and emotional well-being. Limited information exists about other dimensions of the experience which may serve to buffer or prevent negative health outcomes. The purposes of this study were to examine the effect of personal meaning and the experience of caregiving on spouse caregiver health. Cross-sectional data were obtained from interviews with 65 spouse caregivers of persons with advanced cancer. Findings from the multiple regression analysis revealed that sense of purpose in life (Beta = .32, p less than or equal to .05) and the caregiver's level of uncertainty (Beta = -.46, p less than or equal to .01) were statistically significant predictors of health. The results of this study suggest that a stronger sense of purpose in life is positively associated with perceived health. Further, the finding that a higher level of caregiver uncertainty is negatively associated with health suggests the need for nursing interventions to assist caregivers to cope with their role.