Pre-Loss Grief and Personal Growth in Taiwanese Cancer Patient Caregivers

Abstract

Attachment insecurity has been linked to the intense grief of caregivers. However, limited studies have focused on the pre-loss grief and attachment insecurity of caregivers during end-of-life care. In this study, we examined potential correlates of caregivers’ pre-loss grief, personal growth, and relationships with the patients, focusing on attachment insecurity and relational closeness. 163 primary caregivers of terminally ill cancer patients were recruited. Sociodemographic, pre-loss grief, personal growth, attachment insecurity, and emotional closeness were assessed from caregivers during the palliative care for patients. The results showed that attachment anxiety, but not attachment avoidance, was significantly associated with pre-loss grief. Emotional closeness during the care of terminal patients, but not before cancer occurrence, was significantly associated with personal growth. The present study highlights the importance of dyadic relational quality between the caregiver and the patient, which is useful in clinical settings to identify at-risk populations for caregivers’ pre-loss grief.

Keywords:

• Caregiver
• cancer
• attachment insecurities
• personal growth
• pre-loss grief

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Wan-Lin Lee

Wan-Lin Lee is an assistant professor at Fu-Jen Catholic University. Her research project focuses on psycho-oncology and bereavement, aiming to understand the transformation of relationship between caregivers and patients from end-of-life caring phase to bereavement stage.

Chih-Tao Cheng

Chih-Tao Cheng is a psychiatrist at Koo Fundation Sun Yat-Sen Cancer Center. He's area of expertise is building psycho-social intervention model for cancer survivors and advanced cancer patients.

Yi-Chen Hou

Yi-Chen Hou is a clinical psychologist at Koo Fundation Sun Yat-Sen Cancer Center. She is an expert in grief psychotherapy.

Chao-Hsun Hu

Chao-Hsun Hu is a clinical psychologist at Koo Fundation Sun Yat-Sen Cancer Center. He specializes in group therapy for cancer survivors and providing psychological support for palliative care.

Yaw-Sheng Lin

Yaw-Sheng Lin is a professor at National Taiwan University. He has considerable expertise in the following areas: Phenomenological psychology, psychoanalysis, PTSD, and end-of-life care.