Silent Strain: Perceived Stress and Psychological Well-Being Among Cancer Caregivers

Objectives Caregivers of patients with carcinoma play a critical role in oncology care, yet prolonged caregiving responsibilities often expose them to significant psychological stress and compromised mental well-being. In the Indian healthcare context, cultural expectations, limited formal support systems, and extended treatment durations further intensify caregiver burden. Understanding the relationship between perceived stress and psychological well-being is essential to inform comprehensive, caregiver-inclusive nursing interventions. Material and Methods A descriptive correlational cross-sectional study was conducted among 150 primary caregivers of patients with carcinoma at a selected tertiary care hospital in Mangaluru, Karnataka. Participants were selected using non-probability purposive sampling. Data were collected using a baseline proforma, the Perceived Stress Scale, and the Psychological Well-Being Scale. Content validity was established through expert review, and reliability was confirmed using Cronbach’s alpha (stress scale r = 0.86; psychological well-being scale r = 0.88). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and Chi-square test, with p <0.05 considered statistically significant. Results The findings revealed that 43.3% of caregivers experienced moderate stress and 38.0% experienced severe stress, while only 18.7% reported mild stress (mean ± SD: 22.49 ± 8.56). Psychological well-being was predominantly low, with 96.0% of caregivers falling in the low category (mean ± SD: 161.61 ± 19.24). Among psychological well-being domains, positive relations had the highest mean score (28.1 ± 5.29), while autonomy had the lowest (25.9 ± 4.20). A negative, very weak correlation was observed between perceived stress and psychological well-being ( r = -0.083), which was not statistically significant ( p = 0.315). Stress levels were significantly associated with stage of carcinoma ( p <0.001), relationship with the patient ( p = 0.033), and duration of illness ( p = 0.015). Psychological well-being was significantly associated with duration of illness ( p = 0.047). Conclusion Caregivers of patients with carcinoma experience considerable psychological stress and markedly low psychological well-being. Although the correlation between stress and psychological well-being was weak and non-significant, disease-related factors such as advanced cancer stage and prolonged illness significantly influenced caregiver distress. These findings highlight the necessity of integrating routine caregiver assessment, stress screening, and nursing-led psychosocial support strategies into oncology care to enhance caregiver well-being and optimize patient outcomes.