Exploring Burden of Care and Psychological Well-being of Caregiver of Cancer Patients: Mediating Role of Self-Compassion
Keywords:
Caregiver Burden, Psychological Well-being, Self-compassionAbstract
Caregiving for cancer patients often imposes substantial emotional, physical, and psychological demands that can adversely affect caregivers’ mental health. The present study explored the relationship between caregiver burden and psychological well-being among caregivers of cancer patients, while examining the mediating role of self-compassion. Using a cross-sectional research design, data were collected from a purposive sample of 159 male and female caregivers of cancer patients from the Punjab province of Pakistan. Standardized measures were administered to assess caregiver burden, psychological well-being, and self-compassion. Results indicated a significant negative relationship between caregiver burden and psychological well-being, suggesting that higher levels of burden were associated with poorer mental health outcomes. Self-compassion was found to be positively associated with psychological well-being and negatively related to caregiver burden. Mediation analysis revealed that self-compassion partially mediated the relationship between caregiver burden and psychological well-being, indicating its protective role in reducing psychological distress among caregivers. These findings highlight the importance of fostering self-compassion in caregiver support and intervention programs to enhance psychological resilience and well-being among caregivers of cancer patients.
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