Caregivers under pressure: Burden, coping strategies, and alcohol consumption
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Updated: Oct 30, 2026

The Motivation for Alcohol Reward: Predictors of Progressive-Ratio Intravenous Alcohol Self-Administration in Humans
Published on: April 28, 2022
Mariana Vargas-Beltrán1, Lorena Chaparro-Diaz2, Francisco Rafael Guzmán-Facundo3
1Facultad de Enfermería y Nutriología. Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua. mvargas@uach.mx.
Abstract:
The high physical, emotional, and social demands of caring for a person with cancer can lead to elevated levels of burden among family caregivers, negatively impacting their mental health and self-care behaviors. In this context, some caregivers may respond to the challenges and emotional distress of caregiving by adopting coping styles that involve risky behaviors, such as alcohol consumption.
Objective:
To determine the relationship between caregiver burden, coping styles, and alcohol use among caregivers of individuals with cancer.
Method:
Descriptive and correlational study with a sample of 172 primary caregivers.
Results:
Alcohol consumption showed a positive and significant correlation with the level of caregiver burden (rs = .160, p = .027), and a negative correlation with emotion-focused coping (rs = -.190, p = .013) and dysfunctional coping (rs = -.206, p = .007).
Conclusion:
Alcohol consumption in caregivers is associates with high leves of burden. There is a need for culturally sensitive interventions that promote healthy coping strategies and prevent risk behaviors, especially in Latin American family contexts where social and emotional bonds are often mediated through alcohol-related rituals.
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