Longitudinal Dyadic Interdependence in Psychological Distress Among Latinas With Breast Cancer and Their Informal Caregivers

• Published in: Cancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention Vol. 29; no. 3; p. 690
• Main Authors: Segrin, C, Badger, TA, Sikorskii, A, Pasvogel, A, Weihs, K, Lopez, AM, Chalasani, P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01-03-2020
• ISSN: 1055-9965; 1538-7755
• DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-20-0052

Abstract
Cancer diagnosis and treatment can generate substantial distress for both survivors and their informal caregivers, defined as family members or friends who provide care and assistance to the cancer survivor. The primary aim of this investigation is to test a model of dyadic interdependence in distress experienced by Latina breast cancer survivors and their informal caregivers to determine if each influences the other. Methods: To test this prediction, 209 Latinas with breast cancer and their informal caregivers (dyads) were followed for 4 waves of assessment over the course of 6 months. Both psychological (depression, anxiety, perceived stress) and physical (number of symptoms, symptom distress) indicators of distress were assessed. Longitudinal analyses of dyadic data were performed in accordance with the actor-partner interdependence model using linear mixed effects modeling. Results: Findings indicated that psychological distress was interdependent between cancer survivors and their informal caregivers over the 6 months of observation. Caregivers experienced greater depression, anxiety, and stress to the extent that the survivors reported such distress, and vice versa. These effects held, even when controlling for nature of the survivor-caregiver relationship (married to each other or not), education, and the dyads' baseline similarity on distress. However, there was no such evidence of interdependence on indicators of physical distress. Conclusions: These findings are consistent with emotional contagion processes by which psychological distress is transmitted over time between cancer survivors and their informal caregivers. Latina cancer survivors are a particularly vulnerable population due to health disparities, linguistic barriers, and socioeconomic challenges. Management of psychological distress is of particular concern in this population. These findings point to the potential importance of caregiver well-being for the welfare of Latina breast cancer survivors.