Relationship between family resilience and dyadic coping in colorectal cancer patients and their spouses, based on the actor-partner interdependence model

Purpose

To explore the relationship between dyadic coping and family resistance in colorectal cancer patients and their spouses.

Methods

178 pairs of colorectal cancer patients and their spouses hospitalized in a three tertiary hospital in Changsha were selected from July 2021 to March 2022. The Family Resilience Assessment Scale and the Dyadic Coping Inventory were used to investigate, which relationship was analyzed by APIM.

Results

The total score of patients' dyadic coping was 121.51 ± 16.8, and spouses' score was 123.72 ± 16.6. The total score of family resilience was 176.42 ± 16.0, and spouses' score was 182.72 ± 17.03. There was a significant positive relationship between dyadic coping and family resistance of colorectal cancer patients and their spouses (r > 0.7, P < 0.001). The positive dyadic coping of colorectal cancer patients and their spouses had a positive effect on their own and their spouses’ family resilience and the effect was the same. The negative dyadic coping of colorectal cancer patients and their spouses had a negative impact on their own family resilience, and the overall model showed a subject pattern.

Conclusions

The level of family resilience of colorectal cancer patients and their spouses was affected by the level of dyadic coping. Medical workers should regard patients and their spouses as a whole and formulate mutually supportive coping strategies with family as the center, so as to increase positive coping behavior and enhance their family's ability to cope with cancer.