Asian Oncol Nurs.  2018 Sep;18(3):135-142. 10.5388/aon.2018.18.3.135.

The Effects of Stress and Stress Coping on Life Quality in Cancer Patients and Caregivers: A Dyadic Analysis Using an Actor-Partner Interdependence Model

• Kim EJ
• Han JW

• KMID: 2421827
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5388/aon.2018.18.3.135

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study is to determine actor and partner effects of stress coping on quality of life (QoL) of cancer patients and their primary caregivers using an actor-partner independence model (APIM).
METHODS
The subjects of this study were adults aged 19 years and over who visited a hospital. They were diagnosed with cancer and were treated with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. 137 patients with cancer and 137 caregivers were included in the study.
RESULTS
Cancer patient stress had a direct effect on their stress coping (β=.42, p=.004). Primary caregiver stress also had a direct effect on their stress coping (β=.41, p < .001). Factors significantly affecting cancer patients' QoL were patient stress (β=−.14, p=.002), stress coping (β=.24, p < .001), and primary caregiver stress coping (β=.11, p=.021). Factors significantly affecting primary caregiver QoL were primary caregiver stress (β=−.22, p < .001) and their stress coping (β=.14, p=.009).
CONCLUSION
In order to improve the quality of life of cancer patients and caregivers, it is necessary to consider cancer patients and caregivers as a unit when constructing intervention programs for stress management.

Keyword

Caregivers; Neoplasms; Stress

MeSH Terms

Adult
Caregivers*
Drug Therapy
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
Humans
Quality of Life*
Radiotherapy