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Cancer’s Impact on Spousal Caregiver Health: A Qualitative Analysis in Grounded Theory

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Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative study is to examine the impact cancer has on a spouse/partner caregiver. The psychological effects of caregiving are well documented, but information related to the physical outcomes of the caregiver of a partner with cancer is lacking. This is a qualitative study based in grounded theory and explores themes from transcripted interviews of eight spousal caregivers and four widowers. The caregiver is often the “silent sufferer.” Caregivers that experience compounding hardships and have multiple caregiving responsibilities tend to have paradoxical feelings about their experience and report higher levels of emotional and physical distress. Current caregivers report lower quality of physical health, as compared to widowers who report being in better health after the death of their spouse.

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Acknowledgments

This author would like to thank the 12 participants who took a bold step in sharing their emotions and experiences. The initial goal of this study was to answer a research question, but the ultimate goal became giving a voice to each and every participants’ unique and impactful experience. The author would also like to thank the Coborn Cancer Center for allowing recruitment of participants, a location to conduct research and support in each step of the process. Also, a gracious thank you to colleague Deepu George, and committee chair Manijeh Daneshpour for valuable comments and feedback in draft of this article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Minnesota, 290 McNeal Hall, 1985 Buford Ave., St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA

    Stephanie Trudeau-Hern

  2. St. Cloud State University, 720 Fourth Ave. S., St. Cloud, MN, 56301, USA

    Manijeh Daneshpour

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  1. Stephanie Trudeau-Hern
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  2. Manijeh Daneshpour
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Correspondence to Stephanie Trudeau-Hern.

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Trudeau-Hern, S., Daneshpour, M. Cancer’s Impact on Spousal Caregiver Health: A Qualitative Analysis in Grounded Theory. Contemp Fam Ther 34, 534–554 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-012-9211-9

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