Journal of Psychology Research | 2019
On the relationship between cognitive ability and field of study
Abstract
Cancer, during the treatment phase and beyond, produces physical changes that may be averse to others (Wortman & Dunkel-Schetter, 1979). For example, during treatment, patients may experience bleeding tendencies, hair loss, mouth sores, and unattractive skin reactions (Steams, Lauria, Hermann, & Fogelberg, 1993). Avoiding open communication about the disease by patients, family members, and medical personnel in order to avoid further distress may also explain the lack of social interaction that patients and their caregivers experience (Cohen, 1985; Holland, 1977; Silberfarb & Greer, 1982). Singer (1983) asserted that because it is part of human nature to avoid pain, cancer patients and their families often experience tremendous difficulty relating to each other and working with the problem at hand in a constructive way.Finally, as the cancer progresses, opportunities for social activities decrease due to disabilities caused by the disease (Bloom & Spiegel, 1984). Friedman et al. (1989), observed that approximately 50% of their 60 sick participants felt their loneliness was associated with illness or illness-related situations.The present study focused on the loneliness experienced by those who care for the patients: those who care for hospitalized cancer patients, and the caregivers who were accompanying patients with terminal cancer in their last leg of the journey, while they were hospitalized in the hospice.Approximately 65 million Americans serve as caregivers for an ill adult (National Family Caregiver Alliance, 2009), with this role commonly assumed by family members. It is predicted that within the next 50 years, the total number of cancer cases is expected to double, thereby likely increasing the prevalence of informal caregiving. Caring for the seriously ill person creates considerable strain for caregivers and may affect their working schedule, family life, and social relationships. It is, therefore, obvious why caregiving is frequently associated with significant psychological and physical vulnerability. That may include depression, anxiety, anger, health problems, loneliness (Rainer & McMurry, 2002), and suicidality (Chentsova-Dutton et ah, 2002). Seeing the suffering of a loved one without being able to ease the pain or prevent death, as well as, consequently, facing one s own mortality may result in loneliness and alienation from the rest of the healthy and bustling society.Referring to caregivers, we address not the professional, employed ones, but those family members or friends who are by the patient s side. Commenting on the effect of death or expected death of a loved one, Rainer and McMurry (2002) noted that the physical changes that accompany the dying of a loved one can be difficult to watch and often impossible to understand. Adding to it the mental, spiritual, social and emotional adjustments may make this event overwhelming (p. 1421). Caring for a dying person creates considerable strain for caregivers and may affect their working schedule, family life, and social relationships. It is, consequently, of no surprise that caregiving is frequently associated with significant physical and psychological vulnerability. Their distress is evident in the form of depression, anxiety, anger, health problems, and loneliness. Alarmingly, 14% of caregivers admitted entertaining suicidal thoughts (Chentsova- Dutton et ah, 2002).Loneliness of CaregiversCaregivers are, sometimes, called The hidden patients because they are caring for a family member whose care needs are very significant, and in addition are managing their own life and personal needs. Some of the more obvious risks of caregiving include depression, fatigue, physical illness and emotional exhaustion (Dwyer, 2011). Rosalyn Carter is quoted as saying [that] there are four types of people: those who are caregivers; those who have been caregivers; those who will be caregivers; and those who will need caregivers (Dwyer, 2011; p. …