ipa psychology CK

Contact: Christina Katsari -  katsari@gmail.com   Abstract The current study researches variability of experiencing caregiving, the positive and negative emotional impact on informal caregivers, as well as the importance of familial, socioeconomic and sociocultural factors in Greece. IPA, a subject-centered qualitative approach, was used to explore meaningful insights of three young women that were primary caregivers to their cancer patient parents. Participants expressed feeling lonely due to unmet needs by the institutions, lack of psychological support, strained family relationships and not enough support by their partners. Extended family members, friends and communities played a more positive role on the issue. Existential loneliness was also felt by all three participants. Witnessing cancer at the end of life, was reported as very traumatic, causing them high levels of distress, anxiety and other trauma related symptoms. Being empathic witnesses to their parent’s illness...

poster design by  teknike_ Introduction The current study aimed to explore informal caregivers’ experiences while providing care to their terminally ill parents with cancer. Informal caregiving (IC) is the unpaid and often non-professional assistance and support provided by family members or friends to individuals dealing with chronic illnesses, disabilities, or other conditions (Roth et al., 2015; Smith & Kuretich, 2023). Greece has the highest percentage of individuals providing informal care among all European countries (Eurofound, 2017) regularly, with 34% of the population involved. This figure is twice the European average of 17%, highlighting the considerable importance of informal caregiving in Greece. Most of those informal caregivers are women at a stunning 63.5%, typically family members, outnumbering men in this role. Female informal caregivers of cancer patients often face distress, sadness, loss of interest in activities, sleep disturbances, and relationsh...