Conference Agenda

Caring for a close person diagnosed with cancer constitutes a complex process that may be both demanding and empowering for caregivers. Understanding the psychological mechanisms that shape how caregiving is experienced is essential for developing effective psychosocial support interventions for caregivers. The present study investigated whether caregiver burden is better explained by attachment orientation, conceptualized as a relatively stable and enduring disposition, or by I-positions, which reflect more immediate and embodied self-experiences.

A cross-sectional study was conducted in Turkey with 188 informal caregivers of individuals with cancer. Participants completed the Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale, the Adult Attachment Style Scale, and the Caregiving I-Positions Profile Form, and provided information regarding the patient’s disease and treatment, as well as the nature of their caregiving responsibilities.

The findings indicate that specific I-positions are significantly associated with caregiver burden. In particular, I-positions such as “I-as-victim,” “I-as-lonely,” “I-as-angry,” and “I-as-anxious” predicted caregiver burden more strongly than objective caregiving demands and insecure attachment orientations. Mediation analyses further revealed that these I-positions fully mediated the relationship between insecure attachment and caregiver burden. These results suggest that conceptualizing caregivers’ internal mental stances in terms of I-positions offers a valuable framework for developing more targeted psychosocial interventions aimed at enhancing caregiver well-being.