INTERCONNECTIONS AMONG SOCIAL CONNECTEDNESS, PSYCHOLOGICAL INFLEXIBILITY, AND MEANING IN LIFE AMONG CAREGIVERS OF CANCER PATIENTS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53555/eijmhs.v10i3.240Keywords:
social, developing, multifacetedAbstract
The present study explores the interconnections among social connectedness, psychological inflexibility, and meaning in life among caregivers of cancer patients these psychological variables interact with demographic and caregiving factors, such as gender, age, cancer stage, daily caregiving hours, total caregiving duration, and the caregiver's relationship to the patient. Understanding these interconnections is essential for developing psychological support tailored to caregivers' unique challenges in oncology settings. The sample consisted of 141 caregivers (76 females and 65 males) aged 18 to 45, who provide daily support to cancer patients in varying stages of the disease. Participants were assessed using three validated scales: the Social Connectedness Scale-Revised (Lee & Robbins, 2001) to measure their sense of belonging and interpersonal relationships, the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (Steger, 2006) to assess their sense of purpose, and the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (Bond et al., 2011) to evaluate their level of psychological inflexibility, or rigidity in handling stress.
Pearson’s Product-Moment Correlation analysis was conducted to examine the relationships among SC, PIF, and MIL, revealing significant positive correlations across all variables, indicating that caregivers who felt a strong sense of social connectedness and purpose in life tended to experience lower psychological inflexibility. Additionally, multiple linear regression analyses highlighted how demographic and caregiving factors influenced these core psychological dimensions, shedding light on complex, multifaceted interactions.The findings underscore the importance of social and psychological support structures for caregivers. Caregiving characteristics, such as the time spent in caregiving per day and total caregiving duration, were found to have significant impacts on the sense of connection, adaptability, and meaning that caregivers derive from their roles, while variables like gender and caregiver-patient relationship did not show significant effects. The study emphasizes the need for targeted interventions that address these dynamics to bolster caregivers' mental well-being and resilience.