Causal attributions and their impact on psychosocial functioning in head and neck cancer patient–caregiver dyads: a preliminary, longitudinal study

Jessica L. Burris; Jessica N. Rivera-Rivera; Kent Armeson; Jane Zapka; Anthony J. Alberg; Terry A. Day; Katherine R. Sterba

doi:10.1007/s11136-018-2078-y

Causal attributions and their impact on psychosocial functioning in head and neck cancer patient–caregiver dyads: a preliminary, longitudinal study

Jessica L. Burris, Jessica N. Rivera-Rivera, Kent Armeson, Jane Zapka, Anthony J. Alberg, Terry A. Day, Katherine R. Sterba

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: This longitudinal study explores causal attributions in newly diagnosed head/neck cancer (HNC) patients and their caregivers. Methods: Perceptions of causal attributions and associated level of responsibility regarding each patient’s HNC diagnosis at baseline (n = 72 dyads) were described and then tested as predictors of depressive symptoms, cancer worry, and perceived support 6 months later. Results: When causes were reported, tobacco and alcohol use topped the list of both patients and caregivers. Three-quarters of dyads agreed about perceptions of the patients’ responsibility in causing their HNC. Some dyad-level patterns of causal attribution were associated with patients’ and caregivers’ cancer worry (p < 0.05) and caregivers’ perceived support (p < 0.05) in unadjusted models. Conclusions: This preliminary study indicates that causal attributions warrant further exploration in HNC patient–caregiver dyads specifically, as well as studies of quality of life in patient–caregiver dyads more broadly considered.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1105-1109
Number of pages	5
Journal	Quality of Life Research
Volume	28
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-018-2078-y
State	Published - Apr 15 2019

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Acknowledgements The authors acknowledge data collection and recruitment support from Rebecca Patten, OT, Lee Anne Tetrick, BS and Amy Buchanan, MPH, RD. This work was supported by the American Cancer Society [MRSG-12-221-01-CPPB]; the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences [UL1TR000062]; and the National Cancer Institute [P30 CA138313, K07 CA181351]. Its content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the American Cancer Society or National Institutes of Health.

Funding Information:
The authors acknowledge data collection and recruitment support from Rebecca Patten, OT, Lee Anne Tetrick, BS and Amy Buchanan, MPH, RD. This work was supported by the American Cancer Society [MRSG-12-221-01-CPPB]; the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences [UL1TR000062]; and the National Cancer Institute [P30 CA138313, K07 CA181351]. Its content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the American Cancer Society or National Institutes of Health.

Funding Information:
Ethical Approval All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional research committee and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study. This research was supported by the American Cancer Society [MRSG-12-221-01-CPPB]; the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences [UL1TR000062]; and the National Cancer Institute [P30 CA138313, K07 CA181351]. Its content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the American Cancer Society or National Institutes of Health.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2018, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

Keywords

Cancer
Causal attributions
Distress
Dyads
Social support

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1007/s11136-018-2078-y

Cite this

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title = "Causal attributions and their impact on psychosocial functioning in head and neck cancer patient–caregiver dyads: a preliminary, longitudinal study",

abstract = "Purpose: This longitudinal study explores causal attributions in newly diagnosed head/neck cancer (HNC) patients and their caregivers. Methods: Perceptions of causal attributions and associated level of responsibility regarding each patient{\textquoteright}s HNC diagnosis at baseline (n = 72 dyads) were described and then tested as predictors of depressive symptoms, cancer worry, and perceived support 6 months later. Results: When causes were reported, tobacco and alcohol use topped the list of both patients and caregivers. Three-quarters of dyads agreed about perceptions of the patients{\textquoteright} responsibility in causing their HNC. Some dyad-level patterns of causal attribution were associated with patients{\textquoteright} and caregivers{\textquoteright} cancer worry (p < 0.05) and caregivers{\textquoteright} perceived support (p < 0.05) in unadjusted models. Conclusions: This preliminary study indicates that causal attributions warrant further exploration in HNC patient–caregiver dyads specifically, as well as studies of quality of life in patient–caregiver dyads more broadly considered.",

keywords = "Cancer, Causal attributions, Distress, Dyads, Social support",

author = "Burris, {Jessica L.} and Rivera-Rivera, {Jessica N.} and Kent Armeson and Jane Zapka and Alberg, {Anthony J.} and Day, {Terry A.} and Sterba, {Katherine R.}",

note = "Funding Information: Acknowledgements The authors acknowledge data collection and recruitment support from Rebecca Patten, OT, Lee Anne Tetrick, BS and Amy Buchanan, MPH, RD. This work was supported by the American Cancer Society [MRSG-12-221-01-CPPB]; the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences [UL1TR000062]; and the National Cancer Institute [P30 CA138313, K07 CA181351]. Its content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the American Cancer Society or National Institutes of Health. Funding Information: The authors acknowledge data collection and recruitment support from Rebecca Patten, OT, Lee Anne Tetrick, BS and Amy Buchanan, MPH, RD. This work was supported by the American Cancer Society [MRSG-12-221-01-CPPB]; the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences [UL1TR000062]; and the National Cancer Institute [P30 CA138313, K07 CA181351]. Its content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the American Cancer Society or National Institutes of Health. Funding Information: Ethical Approval All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional research committee and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study. This research was supported by the American Cancer Society [MRSG-12-221-01-CPPB]; the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences [UL1TR000062]; and the National Cancer Institute [P30 CA138313, K07 CA181351]. Its content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the American Cancer Society or National Institutes of Health. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2018, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.",

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AU - Burris, Jessica L.

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AU - Armeson, Kent

AU - Zapka, Jane

AU - Alberg, Anthony J.

AU - Day, Terry A.

AU - Sterba, Katherine R.

N1 - Funding Information: Acknowledgements The authors acknowledge data collection and recruitment support from Rebecca Patten, OT, Lee Anne Tetrick, BS and Amy Buchanan, MPH, RD. This work was supported by the American Cancer Society [MRSG-12-221-01-CPPB]; the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences [UL1TR000062]; and the National Cancer Institute [P30 CA138313, K07 CA181351]. Its content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the American Cancer Society or National Institutes of Health. Funding Information: The authors acknowledge data collection and recruitment support from Rebecca Patten, OT, Lee Anne Tetrick, BS and Amy Buchanan, MPH, RD. This work was supported by the American Cancer Society [MRSG-12-221-01-CPPB]; the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences [UL1TR000062]; and the National Cancer Institute [P30 CA138313, K07 CA181351]. Its content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the American Cancer Society or National Institutes of Health. Funding Information: Ethical Approval All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional research committee and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study. This research was supported by the American Cancer Society [MRSG-12-221-01-CPPB]; the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences [UL1TR000062]; and the National Cancer Institute [P30 CA138313, K07 CA181351]. Its content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the American Cancer Society or National Institutes of Health. Publisher Copyright: © 2018, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

PY - 2019/4/15

Y1 - 2019/4/15

N2 - Purpose: This longitudinal study explores causal attributions in newly diagnosed head/neck cancer (HNC) patients and their caregivers. Methods: Perceptions of causal attributions and associated level of responsibility regarding each patient’s HNC diagnosis at baseline (n = 72 dyads) were described and then tested as predictors of depressive symptoms, cancer worry, and perceived support 6 months later. Results: When causes were reported, tobacco and alcohol use topped the list of both patients and caregivers. Three-quarters of dyads agreed about perceptions of the patients’ responsibility in causing their HNC. Some dyad-level patterns of causal attribution were associated with patients’ and caregivers’ cancer worry (p < 0.05) and caregivers’ perceived support (p < 0.05) in unadjusted models. Conclusions: This preliminary study indicates that causal attributions warrant further exploration in HNC patient–caregiver dyads specifically, as well as studies of quality of life in patient–caregiver dyads more broadly considered.

AB - Purpose: This longitudinal study explores causal attributions in newly diagnosed head/neck cancer (HNC) patients and their caregivers. Methods: Perceptions of causal attributions and associated level of responsibility regarding each patient’s HNC diagnosis at baseline (n = 72 dyads) were described and then tested as predictors of depressive symptoms, cancer worry, and perceived support 6 months later. Results: When causes were reported, tobacco and alcohol use topped the list of both patients and caregivers. Three-quarters of dyads agreed about perceptions of the patients’ responsibility in causing their HNC. Some dyad-level patterns of causal attribution were associated with patients’ and caregivers’ cancer worry (p < 0.05) and caregivers’ perceived support (p < 0.05) in unadjusted models. Conclusions: This preliminary study indicates that causal attributions warrant further exploration in HNC patient–caregiver dyads specifically, as well as studies of quality of life in patient–caregiver dyads more broadly considered.

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Causal attributions and their impact on psychosocial functioning in head and neck cancer patient–caregiver dyads: a preliminary, longitudinal study

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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