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

Purpose: This study is to determine actor and partner effects of stress coping on quality of life (Qo < b > L) 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 (beta=.42, p <.004). Primary caregiver stress also had a direct effect on their stress coping (beta=.41, p <.001). Factors significantly affecting cancer patientg QoL were patient stress (beta.-14,p-.002), stress coping (beta=.24, p <.001), and primary caregiver stress coping (beta=.11, p=.021). Factors significantly affecting primary caregiver QoL were primary caregiver stress (beta=-.22, p <.001) and their stress coping (beta=.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.