Process-Based Approaches in Chronic Diseases and Family Caregivers

Dear Colleagues,

Advancing knowledge of potential mechanisms of illness- or chronic condition–related suffering (e.g., ACT processes such as cognitive fusion, illness and caregiver role identity, values-based action, psychological flexibility) is increasingly relevant in today’s context.

This understanding is particularly important in medical care for people with chronic illness and their caregivers.

The prevalence of chronic diseases is rising, with patients living with these conditions often facing highly stressful circumstances that require coping with significant life changes, such as accepting health loss and modifying health habits, which frequently result in increased psychological distress. In addition, most of the care and support for people living with chronic diseases is provided by family members. Family caregiving, in this context, has been conceptualized as a chronic stressor, with both negative and positive consequences for caregivers’ physical and emotional health. Given the high levels of emotional comorbidity observed in both individuals with chronic diseases and their family caregivers, identifying transdiagnostic mechanisms offers a valuable framework to understand how these processes affect health and well-being.

Predictors and processes that can be modified through process-based therapy may play an important role in explaining emotional distress in both groups. Adopting a contextual behavioral science perspective in the study of chronic disease processes could therefore be highly useful to identify core predictors and mechanisms of change, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of how well-being is maintained or disrupted over time.

This Special Issue invites theoretical, empirical, and applied research examining predictors, mechanisms of change, and outcomes related to suffering and well-being in chronic illness and caregiving. Submissions may include intervention studies, theoretical models, or reviews, particularly those that identify modifiable mechanisms with clinical and psychosocial relevance, as well as research exploring innovative strategies or tools to assess or enhance these processes.

Prof. Dr. Rosa Romero-Moreno
Dr. Carlos Vara-García
Guest Editors

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