Chris Lo1,2, Sarah Hales1,2, Michal Braun3, Anne C Rydall1, Camilla Zimmermann1,4, Gary Rodin1,2. 1. Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada. 2. Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. 3. School of Psychology, Interdisciplinary Center, Herzliya, Israel. 4. Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The relational impact of advanced cancer on both patients and spouse caregivers has rarely been examined simultaneously. This study describes a framework for understanding distress in each partner as a consequence of psychosocial characteristics, burden of disease or of caregiving, and the distress of the other person. A model focusing on the protective value of social relatedness was tested to illustrate the interdependence of patients and spouses in their mutual adaptation to disease. METHODS: A total of 278 advanced cancer patients and their spouse caregivers completed measures of psychological distress (e.g., depression), physical burden from cancer (e.g., symptom count), caregiving burden (i.e., time and task demand), and social relatedness (i.e., social support and attachment security). Structural equation modeling was used to extract latent factors associated with these constructs and to examine their interrelationships. RESULTS: The model fit was adequate. Patient distress was related to disease burden (standardized path coefficient = 0.52) and patient social relatedness (-0.32). Caregiver distress was related to caregiving burden (0.21) and caregiver social relatedness (-0.51). Caregiving burden was related to patient disease burden (0.43) and caregiver social relatedness (-0.37). Reciprocal pathways between patient and caregiver distress indicated that caregiver distress was influenced by patient distress (0.30) but not vice versa (0.12). CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the view that patients and caregivers constitute an interdependent relational system and interventions in this setting should take into account both interactions between patients and caregivers and the nature of their social relatedness.
BACKGROUND: The relational impact of advanced cancer on both patients and spouse caregivers has rarely been examined simultaneously. This study describes a framework for understanding distress in each partner as a consequence of psychosocial characteristics, burden of disease or of caregiving, and the distress of the other person. A model focusing on the protective value of social relatedness was tested to illustrate the interdependence of patients and spouses in their mutual adaptation to disease. METHODS: A total of 278 advanced cancerpatients and their spouse caregivers completed measures of psychological distress (e.g., depression), physical burden from cancer (e.g., symptom count), caregiving burden (i.e., time and task demand), and social relatedness (i.e., social support and attachment security). Structural equation modeling was used to extract latent factors associated with these constructs and to examine their interrelationships. RESULTS: The model fit was adequate. Patient distress was related to disease burden (standardized path coefficient = 0.52) and patient social relatedness (-0.32). Caregiver distress was related to caregiving burden (0.21) and caregiver social relatedness (-0.51). Caregiving burden was related to patient disease burden (0.43) and caregiver social relatedness (-0.37). Reciprocal pathways between patient and caregiver distress indicated that caregiver distress was influenced by patient distress (0.30) but not vice versa (0.12). CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the view that patients and caregivers constitute an interdependent relational system and interventions in this setting should take into account both interactions between patients and caregivers and the nature of their social relatedness.
Authors: Markus W Haun; Halina Sklenarova; Eva C Winkler; Johannes Huber; Michael Thomas; Laura A Siminoff; Michael Woll; Anette Brechtel; Wolfgang Herzog; Mechthild Hartmann Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2014-04-11 Impact factor: 3.603
Authors: Yingzi Zhang; Supriya Mohile; Eva Culakova; Sally Norton; Kah Poh Loh; Sindhuja Kadambi; Lee Kehoe; Valerie Aarne Grossman; Victor G Vogel; Brian L Burnette; Thomas P Bradley; Marie Flannery Journal: Psychooncology Date: 2022-02-20 Impact factor: 3.955
Authors: Katrina R Ellis; Kristin Z Black; Stephanie Baker; Carol Cothern; Kia Davis; Kay Doost; Christina Goestch; Ida Griesemer; Fatima Guerrab; Alexandra F Lightfoot; Neda Padilla; Cleo A Samuel; Jennifer C Schaal; Christina Yongue; Eugenia Eng Journal: Fam Community Health Date: 2020 Jul/Sep
Authors: Eryn Tong; Chris Lo; Shari Moura; Kelly Antes; Sarah Buchanan; Venissa Kamtapersaud; Gerald M Devins; Camilla Zimmermann; Steven Gallinger; Gary Rodin Journal: Pilot Feasibility Stud Date: 2019-06-20