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Elizabeth Daskalakis, BA
Pronouns
She/Her/Hers
Job Title
Clinical Research Coordinator
Academic Rank
Department
Psychiatry
Authors
Elizabeth Daskalakis BA, Emma C. Deary BA, P. Connor Johnson MD, Ashley M. Nelson PhD, Madison A. Clay BS, Richard A. Newcomb MD, Elizabeth F. Mattera BS, Daniel Yang BS, Katherine Cronin BA, Kofi Boateng MPH, Stephanie J. Lee MD, MPH, Thomas W. LeBlanc MD, MA, MHS, and Areej El-Jawahri MD, Hermioni L. Amonoo MD, MPP
Principal Investigator
Hermioni L. Amonoo, MD, MPP
Research Category: Psychiatry/Mental Health
Tags
Caregivers of patients with hematologic malignancies undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) must cope with substantial caregiving burden, high rates of psychological distress, and diminished quality of life (QOL). However, data describing these constructs are lacking. We conducted a secondary analysis of data from a multi-site randomized trial of a supportive care intervention in caregivers and HSCT recipients. Caregivers completed the Brief COPE, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Caregiver Oncology QOL Questionnaire to measure coping strategies, psychological distress, and QOL. Coping was categorized into two domains: approach-oriented (i.e., emotional support, active coping) and avoidant coping (i.e., self-blame, denial). We used a median split to describe the distribution of coping and multivariate linear regression to assess coping and caregiver outcomes. We enrolled 170 caregivers, with a median age of 53 years. Most were White (87%), non-Hispanic (96%), and female (77%). Approach-oriented coping was associated with less anxiety (β=-0.210, p=0.003) and depression symptoms (β=-0.160, p=0.009) and better QOL (β=0.526, p=0.002). In contrast, avoidant coping was associated with more anxiety (β=0.687, p<0.001) and depression symptoms (β=0.579, p<0.001) and worse QOL (β=-1.631, p<0.001). Our findings suggest that coping is related to distress and QOL among caregivers of HSCT recipients, even pre-transplant.
Caregivers of patients with blood cancers undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) must cope with a substantial caregiving burden, high rates of psychological distress, and diminished quality of life (QOL). However, data describing coping mechanisms, QOL, and psychological distress are lacking in this population. We used data from a supportive care intervention in caregivers and HSCT recipients to measure coping strategies, psychological distress, and QOL. We defined coping as either approach-oriented (i.e., emotional support, active coping) or avoidant (i.e., self-blame, denial). We enrolled 170 caregivers, with a median age of 53 years. Most were White (87%), non-Hispanic (96%), and female (77%). Approach-oriented coping was associated with less anxiety and depression symptoms, and better QOL. In contrast, avoidant coping was associated with more anxiety and depression symptoms and worse QOL. Our findings suggest that coping is related to distress and QOL among caregivers of HSCT recipients, even pre-transplant.
