ABSTRACT
Background
The life-threatening nature of cancer can precipitate posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) in family caregivers. PTSS can lead to unhealthy coping and maladaptive health behaviors.
Aims
We explored the extent to which PTSS are associated with health behaviors of caregivers and the moderating role of gender.
Methods
Spousal caregivers (N = 144) of patients who were newly diagnosed with colorectal cancer were enrolled. The sample was comprised of mostly Hispanic, middle-aged, and female caregivers. Four types of cancer-related PTSS (intrusions, avoidance, negative alterations in cognitions and mood, and alterations in arousal and reactivity) and health behaviors (substance use and improper healthcare utilization) were self-reported. Study hypotheses were tested using logistic and negative binomial regression models.
Results
Caregivers overall reported higher alcohol use than CDC recommendations. Male caregivers reported greater alcohol use and more improper healthcare utilization compared with their female counterparts (p < 0.03). Among female caregivers only, greater avoidance was associated with less improper healthcare utilization, and greater negative alterations in cognitions and mood was associated with more improper healthcare utilization (p ≤ 0.01).
Conclusions
Findings that male caregivers are more vulnerable to alcohol use and improper healthcare utilization highlight the need for healthy lifestyle coping interventions tailored specifically to male caregivers. In contrast, female caregivers who exhibit elevated negative alterations in cognitions and mood are at greater risk for improper healthcare utilization than male counterparts. Findings suggest that interventions targeting cancer-related PTSS may help improve engagement of proper healthcare utilization and reduce the risk for premature morbidity among female caregivers.