Loneliness, hope, and positive aspects of caregiving among family caregivers of patients with advanced cancer: A multicentre cross-sectional study in China

Ma J 1 , Vimala R 2 , Chin CC 3 , Ng CG 4 , Sun X 5 , Wang S 6 Show all authors , Wang J 7 , Zhang Z 8

Affiliations 

  • 1 Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Department of Nursing, Changzhi Medical College, Changzhi, Shanxi, China. Electronic address: majp@czmc.edu.cn
  • 2 School of Nursing, Faculty of Health Science, Nursing and Education, MAHSA University, Selangor, Malaysia. Electronic address: vimala@mahsa.edu.my
  • 3 Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Electronic address: chechongchin@um.edu.my
  • 4 Department of Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Electronic address: chong_guan@um.edu.my
  • 5 Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Electronic address: 13726295814@163.com
  • 6 Department of Oncology, Heping Hospital Affiliated to Changzhi Medical College, Changzhi, Shanxi, China. Electronic address: 52330920@qq.com
  • 7 Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China. Electronic address: wjq1991n@126.com
  • 8 Department of Nursing, Changzhi Medical College, Changzhi, Shanxi, China. Electronic address: 254406305@qq.com
Eur J Oncol Nurs, 2026 Oct;84:103290.
PMID: 42508366 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejon.2026.103290

Abstract

PURPOSE: To examine the levels of loneliness, hope, and positive aspects of caregiving (PAC) among family caregivers of patients with advanced cancer in China and to investigate the independent associations of PAC with loneliness and hope.

METHODS: This multicentre cross-sectional study was conducted at three tertiary hospitals across northern, central, and southern China. A total of 706 primary family caregivers completed validated measures of loneliness (De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale), hope (Herth Hope Index), and PAC (Positive Aspects of Caregiving Scale). Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were performed to examine the incremental explanatory effects of loneliness and hope on PAC, after controlling for relevant sociodemographic and clinical variables.

RESULTS: Caregivers reported moderate levels of loneliness (M = 3.51, SD = 1.77), hope (M = 34.31, SD = 6.30), and PAC (M = 32.30, SD = 7.56). Loneliness was negatively correlated with PAC (r = -0.444, p 

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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