Dyadic Effects of Perceived Stress, Relationship Satisfaction and Distress Disclosure on Emotional Distress in Colorectal Cancer Patients and Their Family Caregivers: An Actor-partner Interdependence Mediation Model

ObjectiveThis study adopted a dyadic analysis method to examine the effect of perceived stress on emotional distress and determine whether relationship satisfaction and distress disclosure act as mediators in colorectal cancer (CRC) enterostomy patient-caregiver dyads.MethodsA total of 312 patient-caregiver dyads completed measures assessing perceived stress, relationship satisfaction, distress disclosure, and emotional distress. The data were analyzed using the actor-partner interdependence mediation model.ResultsThis study found that the perceived stress of patients and caregivers both had direct and indirect actor effects on emotional distress (through relationship satisfaction). Another important finding is that perceived stress had indirect actor-partner effects (through distress disclosure) on emotional distress.ConclusionsThis study highlights that perceived stress, relationship satisfaction, and distress disclosure of patients and their caregivers are key factors that can be considered for improving emotional distress. It also partially confirmed the interdependence of patients with CRC and their caregivers.