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. 2023 Jan-Apr;16(1):5-11.
doi: 10.4103/ijoy.ijoy_203_22. Epub 2023 Jul 10.

Interest in and Barriers to Practicing Yoga among Family Caregivers of People with Cancer

Krupali Desai  1 , Allison J Applebaum  2 , Shelly Latte-Naor  1 , Eva M Pendleton  1 , Sarah Cheyney  1 , Qing S Li  1 , Ting Bao  1 , Susan Chimonas  3 , Jun J Mao  1
Affiliations

Interest in and Barriers to Practicing Yoga among Family Caregivers of People with Cancer

Krupali Desai et al. Int J Yoga. 2023 Jan-Apr.

Abstract

Background: Family caregivers of people with cancer report high levels of psychological distress. Yoga, with well-documented mental health benefits, could be a useful intervention to address distress in this population. However, little is known about yoga practices among cancer caregivers. The present study evaluates their interest in and barriers to yoga practice.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey study of family caregivers of cancer patients at five suburban satellite locations of an academic cancer center. Survey items and statistical analyses focused on yoga usage as well as interest in and barriers to yoga practice.

Results: Among 539 participants, most were females (64.8%), white (84.2%), and caring for a spouse or partner (54.7%). Interest in practicing yoga among study participants was 42.3%. Increased interest was independently associated with being females (odds ratio [OR] = 3.30, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.98-5.51, P < 0.001) and employed (part-time: OR = 2.58, 95% CI = 1.1-6.18, P = 0.03; full-time: OR = 1.77, 95% CI = 1.1-2.01, P = 0.02). Few participants (6.3%) were currently practicing yoga, although 31% had done so in the past. Sixty-one percent of those who had practiced before their loved one's diagnosis stopped practicing yoga afterward. Commonly cited barriers to yoga practice included time constraints (37.3%) and psychological obstacles (33.6%). About a quarter of those who had never practiced yoga lacked awareness of yoga's benefits (26.6%).

Conclusion: Despite the low use of yoga, interest in practicing was moderately high, especially among women and employed caregivers. As caregivers face numerous barriers to yoga practice, strategies are needed to overcome these barriers and help them access yoga's health benefits.

Keywords: Cancer; caregivers; integrative medicine; psychological distress; yoga.

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Conflict of interest statement

The author(s) declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Dr. Mao reports grants from Tibet Chee Zheng Tibetan Medicine Co. Ltd. and from Zhongke Health International LLC outside the submitted work. Dr. Applebaum receives support from Blue Note Therapeutics. All other authors declare no potential conflicts of interest.

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