Work

Dyadic effects of social support and coping on quality of life and caregiver burden among hemodialysis patient–caregiver dyads: an actor–partner interdependence mediation model

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Objective This study investigates the dyadic mechanisms linking social support, coping styles, quality of life (QoL), and caregiver burden among maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patient-caregiver dyads, with a focus on the mediating role of adaptive coping strategies.Method In a cross-sectional design, 200 patient—caregiver dyads with MHD completed self—report measures of QoL, caregiver burden, coping style and social support. Mediation analysis was performed using actor—partner interdependence model extended to mediation (APIMeM) and the bootstrapping method. Bias-corrected 95% confidence intervals were calculated for the study of direct and indirect effects.Results Significant actor effects were observed: patients’ social support directly associated with improved their QoL (β = 0.224, p = 0.001), while caregivers’ support associated with reduced their burden (β = −0.141, p = 0.001). Adaptive coping mediated 46.2% of patient QoL variance via actor effects (total indirect β = 0.288) and 25.0% of caregiver burden reduction via actor effects (total indirect β = −0.047). Partner effects revealed cross-dyad influences: caregivers’ support associated with enhanced patient QoL (β = 0.239, p = 0.002), and patients’ support associated with reduced caregiver burden (β = −0.475, p = 0.001). Key mediation pathways included caregivers’ support affecting patient QoL via caregivers’ coping (β = 0.050, 95% CI [0.005, 0.103]) and patients’ support affecting caregiver burden via caregivers’ coping (β = −0.164, 95% CI [−0.236, −0.103]).Conclusions Enhancing social support networks and fostering adaptive coping strategies through dyad-centered programs may synergistically alleviate caregiver burden and improve patient QoL.

Source: Renal Failure

DOI: 10.1080/0886022x.2025.2612439