Abstract
Caring for a loved one with cancer can take a toll on one’s physical health. Cancer caregivers may also experience posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) from cancer as a secondary trauma, possibly linking to physiological alterations. This study examined longitudinally relations between caregiver PTSS around diagnosis (T1) with neuroendocrine biomarkers one-year later (T2). Caregivers of newly and recently diagnosed colorectal cancer patients enrolled (N = 42, age M = 49, 74% female, 67% patient’s spouse, 74% Hispanic, M = 3 months post-diagnosis). Caregivers self-reported PTSS clusters (avoidance, intrusive thoughts, hyper-arousal: Impact of Events Scale) and collected four saliva samples on two consecutive days, which were assayed for alpha-amylase (sAA) and cortisol. sAA and cortisol area under the curve with respect to ground (AUCg), awakening response (AR), and diurnal slope served as outcomes. Age, gender, ethnicity, income, relationship to patient, and T1 sAA and cortisol were covariates. Intrusive thoughts at T1 positively related to sAA AUCg (B = 796.02, p = .02) and cortisol AUCg (B = 575.76, p = .03) at T2; whereas, hyperarousal at T1 negatively related to sAA AUCg (B = -700.01, p = .03) and cortisol AUCg (B=-824.54, p<.01) at T2. Avoidance at T1 negatively related to sAA AR at T2 (B = -41.96, p = .03). Results suggest PTSS clusters differentially manifest in neuroendocrine functioning at one-year follow-up, which may account for cancer caregivers’ health risk. Findings warrant future investigation of caregiver PTSS and subsequent morbidity and mortality risk in the years following cancer.
