Caregiving Burden and Its Impact on the Physical and Mental Health of Family Caregivers of Ovarian Cancer Patients

Abstract

Family caregivers of ovarian cancer patients play a crucial role in providing continuous care, yet the physical and emotional demands of caregiving often lead to burdens that may affect their physical and mental health. This study aimed to determine the relationship between caregiving burden and the physical and mental health of family caregivers of ovarian cancer patients. A quantitative approach with a cross-sectional design was employed. The study population consisted of 171 caregivers, and a total of 63 respondents were selected using purposive sampling. The instruments used were the Zarit Burden Scale to assess caregiving burden and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) to assess caregivers’ physical and mental health. The findings showed that most caregivers experienced mild to moderate caregiving burden, had moderate levels of physical health (63.5%), and exhibited moderate psychological distress (93.7%). Statistical analysis revealed no significant relationship between caregiving burden and physical health (p = 0.986) or mental health (p = 0.889). In conclusion, caregiving burden did not directly affect the physical and mental health of caregivers. It is recommended that healthcare services develop psychosocial support programs and stress management interventions to maintain caregiver well-being and enhance their adaptive coping strategies.

Keywords: Caregiving burden, caregiver, physical health, mental health, ovarian cancer