The Role of Joint Family Systems in Cancer Coping in India: A Review

Abstract

Cancer is a major public health concern associated with substantial physical, emotional, psychosocial, and financial burden worldwide (World Health Organization [WHO], 2024). In India, collectivistic cultural values and family-centered caregiving practices strongly influence the experience of illness and coping among cancer patients. The present narrative review examines the role of joint family systems as cultural resilience mechanisms in Indian cancer care. The review synthesizes psycho-oncology literature related to caregiving, psychosocial adjustment, family resilience, emotional coping, caregiver burden, and culturally embedded support systems. The paper integrates Bowen’s Family Systems Theory, Engel’s Biopsychosocial Model, and Lazarus and Folkman’s Stress and Coping Theory to understand how family structures influence adaptation to cancer. Existing literature indicates that joint family systems may improve emotional adjustment, treatment adherence, caregiving continuity, social connectedness, and resilience among patients with cancer. Simultaneously, caregiving burden, interpersonal conflict, emotional exhaustion, and financial strain may negatively affect family functioning and caregiver well-being. The review also discusses cross-cultural differences between collectivistic and individualistic caregiving systems and highlights implications for culturally informed psycho-oncology interventions. The findings emphasize the need for family-centered psychosocial oncology services within Indian healthcare settings.