Wellbeing of Cancer Caregivers: Scoping Review

Informal caregivers are essential to cancer care, often shouldering complex emotional, physical, and logistical responsibilities. While caregiving can be meaningful, it is frequently linked to psychological distress and reduced wellbeing. Despite their central role, little is known about how sociodemographic inequalities influence caregivers’ mental health in cancer contexts.

This scoping review synthesized recent research on the relationship between caregiver sociodemographic factors and wellbeing outcomes in cancer care. Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, a systematic PubMed search identified studies published between 2020 and 2025 using terms related to family caregiving, cancer, sociodemographics, and wellbeing. After eligibility screening, 12 peer-reviewed studies were included. Data were extracted on cancer type, caregiver characteristics, sociodemographic variables, wellbeing measures, and key findings.

The studies focused on caregivers of patients with breast, pediatric, and oral cancers. Reported wellbeing outcomes included stress, depression, anxiety, resilience, quality of life, and preparedness for caregiving or end-of-life support. Across nearly all studies, lower income, limited education, female gender, and unemployment were consistently associated with poorer psychological outcomes. Eleven of the twelve studies identified significant links between sociodemographic disadvantage and heightened distress. Conversely, factors such as marital status, religious affiliation, and prior caregiving experience were occasionally tied to greater resilience or reduced burden.

Overall, this review highlights that caregiver wellbeing in cancer care is shaped not only by clinical demands but also by structural and social inequities. Sociodemographic disadvantage consistently predicts greater mental health vulnerability. These findings underscore the need for equity-driven, culturally responsive interventions to safeguard high-risk caregivers and prevent cancer care systems from reinforcing existing social inequalities.