Background 

We investigated how caregiver self-esteem was associated with caregiving demands, coping, burden, and health.

Objective 

The aim of this study was to investigate how caregiver self-esteem is associated with caregiving demands, coping, burden, and health.

Methods 

Sixty-one caregivers of breast cancer patients were selected from a study conducted at a cancer clinic in the Southeastern region of the United States. Guided by the revised Stress and Coping Theory, a secondary analysis of cross-sectional data was conducted. We used structural equation modeling to analyze paths between caregiver self-esteem and caregiving demands (ie, hours spent on caregiving), coping, burden, and health.

Results 

Caregivers who effectively coped with stressful situations through strategies such as positive thinking, seeking social support, and problem solving were more likely to have higher levels of self-esteem; in turn, higher levels of self-esteem decreased caregiver burden and improved caregiver overall health.

Conclusions 

This study highlights the importance of self-esteem among caregivers of breast cancer patients. Additional research is needed to provide more insight into the influence of coping strategies on caregiver self-esteem, as well as the role of caregiver self-esteem on caregivers’ and patients’ well-being.

Implication for Practice 

Healthcare providers need to consider caregiver self-esteem and other associated caregiver characteristics to identify caregivers at risk of higher perceived levels of burden and poor overall health.

中文翻译：

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乳腺癌患者护理人员的自尊与护理需求、应对、负担和健康的关系：结构方程建模方法

 背景

我们调查了看护者的自尊与看护需求、应对方式、负担和健康之间的关系。

 客观的

本研究的目的是调查看护者的自尊与看护需求、应对、负担和健康之间的关系。

 方法

一项在美国东南部地区的癌症诊所进行的研究中选出了 61 名乳腺癌患者的护理人员。在修订后的压力与应对理论的指导下，对横截面数据进行了二次分析。我们使用结构方程模型来分析看护者自尊与看护需求（即花在看护上的时间）、应对、负担和健康之间的路径。

 结果

通过积极思考、寻求社会支持和解决问题等策略有效应对压力情况的看护者更有可能拥有更高水平的自尊；反过来，较高的自尊水平会减轻护理人员的负担并改善护理人员的整体健康状况。

 结论

这项研究强调了乳腺癌患者护理人员自尊的重要性。需要更多的研究来更深入地了解应对策略对护理人员自尊的影响，以及护理人员自尊对护理人员和患者福祉的作用。

 对实践的启示

医疗保健提供者需要考虑护理人员的自尊和其他相关的护理人员特征，以识别面临较高感知负担水平和整体健康状况不佳风险的护理人员。