Resilience, Self-Efficacy, and Psychological Burden in Palliative Care

A Cross-Sectional Observational Study

Bibliographic Data

ID13629541
AuthorsLetizia Lafuenti (Clinical Psychology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy, corresponding author), Daniela Belella (Clinical Psychology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy), Rebecca De Paola (Clinical Psychology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy), Livia Sani (0000-0001-9283-8051, Clinical Psychology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy), Valentina Massaroni (0000-0001-8222-4961, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore), Eleonora Malta (Clinical Psychology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy), Sofia Vannuccini (Clinical Psychology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy), Maria Adelaide Ricciotti (Palliative Care Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, IRCCS, Rome, Italy), Eleonora Meloni (0000-0002-5634-238X, Palliative Care Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, IRCCS, Rome, Italy), Sabrina Dispenza (Palliative Care Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, IRCCS, Rome, Italy), Maria Beatrice Zazzara (0000-0001-9155-3388, Palliative Care Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, IRCCS, Rome, Italy), Anna Fagotti (0000-0001-5579-335X, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore), Giampaolo Tortora (0000-0002-1378-4962, Medical Oncology Unit, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Abdominal and Endocrine-Metabolic Medical and Surgical Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, IRCCS, Rome, Italy), Graziano Onder (0000-0003-3400-4491, Palliative Care Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, IRCCS, Rome, Italy), Daniela Pia Rosaria Chieffo (Clinical Psychology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy)
Year2025
Pages302228251363091-302228251363091
Publication date2025-08-05
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueOMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0030-2228 • E-ISSN: 1541-3764
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/00302228251363091
PMID40762528
OpenAlexW4412993442
LanguageEN
References cited39

Aims: This study explores the relationship between resilience and self-efficacy in palliative care patients and caregivers, focusing on gender differences in emotional expression and the impact of patient-caregiver dynamics on distress and coping. Methods: A cross-sectional study involved 160 palliative patients and 123 caregivers. Validated tools assessed resilience (Resilience Scale-14), self-efficacy (General Self-Efficacy Scale), distress (Integrated Palliative Care Outcome Scale), emotional expressivity (Toronto Alexithymia Scale), and caregiving burden (Caregiver Inventory). Regression and mediation analyses identified predictors of distress and burden. Results: Higher resilience correlated with lower patient distress ( p = .004) but increased caregiver burden ( p p Conclusions: While resilience is a protective factor for patients, it may unintentionally heighten the burden on caregivers. Gender-sensitive psychological interventions are needed to improve emotional processing and coping strategies

Alexithymia · Caregiver burden · Coping (psychology · Cross-sectional study · Disease · Distress · Family caregivers · Mediation · Observational study · Palliative care · Psychiatry · Psychological intervention · Psychological resilience · Psychotherapist · Self-efficacy · Clinical Psychology · Internal Medicine · Medicine · Nursing · Optimism, Hope, and Well-being · Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues · Psychology · Resilience and Mental Health · Gerontology

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