The impact of self-perceived burden, caregiver burden, and dyadic coping on negative emotions in colorectal cancer patient-spousal caregiver dyads: a dyadic analysis

Xuan Chen; Zhiming Wang; Junrui Zhou; Chunyan Lin; Huamin Luo; Jie Zhao; Alice Yuen Loke; Qiuping Li

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1238924

The impact of self-perceived burden, caregiver burden, and dyadic coping on negative emotions in colorectal cancer patient-spousal caregiver dyads: a dyadic analysis

Front Psychol. 2023 Sep 25:14:1238924. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1238924. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Xuan Chen¹, Zhiming Wang¹, Junrui Zhou¹, Chunyan Lin², Huamin Luo², Jie Zhao², Alice Yuen Loke³, Qiuping Li^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, China.
² Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China.
³ School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China.

Abstract

Objective: To explore the correlation between dyadic coping, self-perceived burden, caregiver burden, and anxiety/depression in colorectal cancer patient-spousal caregiver dyads.

Methods: This study surveyed 200 colorectal cancer patient-spousal caregiver dyads from August 2022 to December 2022. It evaluated self-perceived burden (only for patients), caregiver burden (only for spousal caregivers), dyadic coping, anxiety, and depression. It analyzed data through Pearson's correlation and the actor-partner interdependence mediation model.

Results: Self-perceived burden and caregiver burden were significantly associated with the anxiety/depression of both individuals in colorectal cancer patient-spousal caregiver dyads; patients' dyadic coping was associated with self-perceived burden and caregiver burden; caregivers' dyadic coping was only associated with patients' dyadic coping and depression. There was an actor-partner mediating effect of self-perceived burden between dyadic coping and anxiety/depression, but there was only a partner-mediating effect of caregiver burden between dyadic coping and anxiety/depression.

Conclusion: This study confirmed the interrelationship between self-perceived burden, caregiver burden, dyadic coping, anxiety, and depression. Self-perceived burden and caregiver burden mediated the relationship between dyadic coping and anxiety/depression in colorectal cancer patient-spousal caregiver dyads. This suggests dynamic interventions for self-perceived burden and caregiver burden can be implemented to improve anxiety/depression in both partners based on maintaining healthy dyadic coping between colorectal cancer patient-spousal caregiver dyads.

Keywords: anxiety; caregiver burden; colorectal cancer; depression; dyadic coping; self-perceived burden.