Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40100933›Full record

ArticlePloS one2025

Biopsychosocial impact of high levels of trait anxiety on family caregivers in the end-of-life palliative care setting.

Anastasia Maria Grumeth, Hans-Bernd Rothenhäusler, Sabrina Mörkl, Jolana Wagner-Skacel, Elisabeth Sciri, Andreas Baranyi

Erratum issuedAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Anastasia Maria GrumethDepartment of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Division of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Graz, Austria.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0003-3898-2038
Hans-Bernd RothenhäuslerDepartment of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Division of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Graz, Austria.
Sabrina MörklDepartment of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Division of Medical Psychology, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Graz, Austria.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5034-6358
Jolana Wagner-SkacelDepartment of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Division of Medical Psychology, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Graz, Austria.
Elisabeth SciriDepartment of Internal Medicine, University Palliative Care Facility, Graz, Austria.
Andreas BaranyiDepartment of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Division of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Graz, Austria.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2389-1945

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionCaring for a family member with a palliative diagnosis at home is physically and mentally stressful. This prospective study explores the emotional and physical burdens experienced by family caregivers in end-of-life palliative care settings, particularly focusing on those caregivers with high levels of pre-existing trait anxiety. The following hypotheses were examined: 1.) Family caregivers with high levels of trait anxiety suffer from high levels of anxiety, stress, burnout symptoms, insomnia, daytime sleepiness, physical complaints, health-related anxiety and resentments. 2.) Caregivers with a high level of trait anxiety are less resilient and receive less social support. They are more likely to use inappropriate strategies in the context of emotional regulation and work-related behavior. 3.) The support provided by the mobile palliative care team reduces stress and improves the quality of sleep of the caregiving relatives.

methodsForty-seven caregivers participated, with assessments conducted at two time points: before the mobile palliative care team's intervention and six weeks later. Data collection included measures such as the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Whiteley Index (WI), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI-HSS), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Giessen Complaints Questionnaire, Berner Bitterness Inventory (BVI), Brief Resilience Coping Scale, FEEL-E for emotional regulation, AVEM, and the MOS Social Support Survey.

resultsHigh levels of trait anxiety among caregivers were significantly associated with increased anxiety, stress, emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, insomnia, and feelings of resentment. Notably, maladaptive emotional regulation strategies were also prevalent. Intervention by the mobile palliative care team significantly reduced stress and insomnia, showing benefits across all levels of trait anxiety.

conclusionFamily caregivers with high trait anxiety face significant challenges in end-of-life palliative care settings, indicating a crucial need for early identification and comprehensive biopsychosocial support to mitigate adverse emotional and physical health outcomes.

Indexed as

AnxietyCaregiversFamilyPalliative CareTerminal CareAdultAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedProspective StudiesSocial SupportStress, Psychological

Identifiers

PMID40100933
PMCPMC11918354

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.