INTERACTIVE MODEL ASSESSING MEDIATING ROLES OF RESILIENCE AND SELF-EFFICACY ON DYADIC COPING AND QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG COUPLES WITH CERVICAL CANCER

Abstract

Cervical cancer is the most common malignancy worldwide. According to the Theory of Dyadic Illness Management, cancer is viewed as a dyadic stressor for patients and their spouses because of the impact on both sides of the dyads. The mechanism of how patients with cervical cancer and their spouses influence each other in coping with dyadic stress has not been clarified. This study aimed to examine the mediating effects of resilience and self-efficacy within the dyadic appraisal and dyadic coping, as well as dyadic coping and quality of life (QoL) for patients with cervical cancer and their spousal caregivers. Additionally, the research sought to construct an Actor-Partner Interdependence Mediated Model incorporating resilience and self-efficacy in the dyadic dynamics of cervical cancer patient-caregiver relationships. This study recruited 636 participants from hospitals within Jiangsu Province via systematic sampling. Data collection was conducted using a comprehensive questionnaire packet. The model was tested using Structural Equation Modeling with AMOS software. The results indicated that the final model provided an adequate fit to the empirical data (χ 2 = 13.424, p = .201, df = 10, χ2 / df = 1.342, GFI = .992, NFI=.992, CFI=.998, RMSEA=.033, RMR=.023). Behavioral responses of patients with cervical cancer and their spousal caregivers in coping with the disease are interrelated and mutually influential, and resilience and self-efficacy have Actor-Partner Interdependence mediating effects between dyadic appraisal and dyadic coping, and dyadic coping and QoL of patients with cervical cancer and their spousal caregivers. These findings suggest that nurses could develop intervention programs to enhance the QoL for couples dealing with cervical cancer. The programs would focus on improving the couples' QoL status, boosting their resilience and self-efficacy. Additionally, nurses could suggest appropriate dyadic coping strategies and help inhibit negative dyadic appraisals. Implementing these interventions may contribute to an improvement in the quality of life for couples affected by cervical cancer.

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