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Serving as a family caregiver for, and ultimately losing, a parent with advanced cancer in emerging and young adulthood has substantial, life phase-specific implications for psychosocial development. This qualitative study characterizes domains of psychosocial development impacted by cancer caregiving and parental death in this life phase. As part of a larger study, 33 bereaved emerging/young adult caregivers of parents who died following advanced cancer completed semi-structured interviews. A thematic analysis leveraging the constant comparative method was conducted by two coders and generated three themes, which described impacts of caregiving on: identity, life path, and relational intimacy and roles. Analyses also defined specific outcomes within these domains. Findings suggest that cancer caregiving-loss experiences can greatly influence developmental pursuits in this life phase. Findings validate a range of possible psychosocial impacts these caregivers may experience and can guide development of supportive resources for this growing subgroup of bereaved family caregivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emerging and young adult caregivers (EYACs) who provide care to their parents are a hidden, unsupported population of caregivers. Research identifies information sharing or withholding as a key aspect of caregivers' ability to cope and adjust, which may be especially critical when a parent is diagnosed with advanced cancer. The goal of this study was to examine the impact of parent information sharing/withholding on EYACs' caregiving and coping experiences. We conducted in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 33 EYACs between the ages of 18–35 who cared for a parent that died of advanced cancer. Interview transcripts were thematically analyzed. Three factors played a role in how parents' information sharing/withholding affected EYACs' caregiving/coping: 1) topic, 2) timing, and 3) who is included. Findings highlight the adaptive functioning of parents' information sharing and negative outcomes associated with information withholding, illustrating how parents' disclosure decisions function to promote or inhibit EYACs' care involvement and coping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR), cancer-distress, depression, and anxiety are prevalent concerns among women with gynecologic and other understudied cancers, especially among women of color and lower socioeconomic status (SES). Evidence indicates that mind-body interventions are effective in reducing such distress. This study evaluates (1) proof-of-concept of an integrated group yoga and psychological intervention in alleviating distress among women with gynecologic, gastrointestinal, and thoracic cancers and (2) differences in efficacy across social and economic factors. Methods: One hundred twenty-five participants were enrolled in a 10-week, single-arm, integrated group intervention utilizing mindfulness meditation, psychotherapy skills, and yoga. They completed measures of FCR, cancer-distress, depression, and anxiety at baseline and following intervention. Mixed-linear models evaluated change in outcomes across the intervention and moderating effects of age, minority status, and SES among 51 participants with available data. Results: Reductions in total (b = −2.06, P =.012) and somatic depressive symptoms (b = −1.79, P =.002) and state anxiety (b = −6.21, P =.005) were observed across the sample. Higher SES was associated with greater reductions in psychosocial distress related to FCR (b = −0.74, P =.050), and in total (b = −1.06, P =.049) and affective depressive symptoms (b = −0.76, P =.006). Women of color experienced greater declines in somatic symptoms compared to non-Hispanic White women (b = −2.71, P =.031), with women of color experiencing lower SES exhibiting greatest reduction in these symptoms (b = 1.73, P =.026). Conclusions: This study demonstrates proof-of-concept that an integrated psychological and yoga intervention may reduce depressive symptoms and state anxiety among women with gynecologic, gastrointestinal, and thoracic cancers, with racial and/or ethnic minority status and SES moderating some of these effects. Future research should examine intervention feasibility and acceptability among diverse women with cancer and evaluate efficacy using a randomized controlled trial design. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03385577 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research reveals that informal, adult caregivers (25 years of age and older) of chronically ill loved ones incur psychological stress from the caregiving experience. However, there is little research on the psychological impact on the younger adult caregiver (ages 18-24). Therefore, the focus of this study was to explore the psychological effects of being a younger adult caregiver and what factors contribute to, or insulate the younger adult caregiver from the distress of caregiving. The results indicate that younger adult caregivers are unique in that different factors contribute to or insulate them from distress compared to adult caregivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]