title: Quality of life of family caregivers 8 years after a relative's cancer diagnosis: follow-up of the National Quality of Life Survey for Caregivers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The long-term impact of cancer caregiving on the family caregivers' quality of life (QOL) is currently not known. This study aimed (a) to characterize family caregivers of cancer survivors at 8 years post-diagnosis in terms of multidimensional aspects of QOL and (b) to identify demographic and early caregiving experience characteristics that may play significant roles in predicting the caregivers' longer-term QOL.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 1087 caregivers participated in the 8-year follow-up National Quality of Life Survey for Caregivers. Demographics and early caregiving experiences were measured 2 years post-diagnosis of their relative's cancer. Multidimensional aspects of QOL were assessed, including mental and physical health, psychological adjustment, and spirituality at both 2-year and 8-year post-diagnosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Approximately 90% of family caregivers ceased the caregiver role by 8 years. One-fourth of them were due to bereavement. Caregivers' demographic and early caregiving characteristics were significantly associated with QOL. In addition, being bereaved by the 8-year mark predicted poorer mental health and greater psychological distress independent of contributions of demographic and early caregiving characteristics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings provided the first evidence that 8 years after the initial cancer diagnosis in the family, family members who became bereaved suffer from poorer mental health and greater psychological distress. Findings have theoretical implications for better understanding bereavement to cancer and practical implications for developing integrative programs to improve QOL among family members in the various phases of caregivership.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA.|Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Youngmee
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Kelly M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Shaffer
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA.|Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Charles S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Carver
authors.affiliation: American Cancer Society, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Rachel S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Cannady
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001601:Bereavement; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006117:Grief; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D029181:Spirituality; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: bereavement; cancer; caregivers; long-term survivorship; quality of life