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. 2021 Sep 17;16(9):e0255318.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0255318. eCollection 2021.

Associations between self-efficacy, distress and anxiety in cancer patient-relative dyads visiting psychosocial cancer support services: Using actor-partner interdependence modelling

Solveigh P Lingens  1 , Florian Schulz  1 , Isabell Müller  1 , Holger Schulz  1 , Christiane Bleich  1
Affiliations

Associations between self-efficacy, distress and anxiety in cancer patient-relative dyads visiting psychosocial cancer support services: Using actor-partner interdependence modelling

Solveigh P Lingens et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Background: Patients with cancer and their relatives often suffer from psychosocial burdens following a cancer diagnosis. Psychosocial cancer support services offer support for cancer patients and their relatives. Only a few studies have focused on associations of psychological factors within patient-relative dyads. This study aims to assess associations between the patients' or relatives' self-efficacy and their levels of distress and anxiety who seek help together at psychosocial cancer support centres.

Methods: Participants were recruited at two psychosocial cancer support centres in a major city in Germany. Patients with cancer and their relatives seeking support together received the questionnaire before their first support session. Self-efficacy was assessed with the Pearlin sense of mastery scale, distress with the distress thermometer and anxiety with the General Anxiety Disorder questionnaire (GAD-7). For the analysis, the actor-partner interdependence model was applied.

Results: The data analysis was based on 41 patient-relative dyads (patients: 39% women, mean age 53.5; relatives: 66% women, mean age 52.16). A significant actor effect from self-efficacy to distress was found for patients (r = -0.47) but not for relatives (r = -0.15). Partner effects from self-efficacy to distress were not significant (r = -0.03, r = -0.001). The actor effect from self-efficacy to anxiety for patients (r = -0.61) as well as relatives was significant (r = -0.62), whereas the partner effect was significant for patients (r = 0.16) but not for relatives (r = -0.46).

Conclusion: The results suggest that patients' and relatives' self-efficacy is associated with their distress and anxiety. Partner effects were visible for patients' self-efficacy and relatives' anxiety. These findings suggest that self-efficacy is an important factor for the psychological well-being of patients and relatives and that it may additionally be associated with the partners' well-being. Longitudinal research with larger samples is needed to support the findings.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. The standard model for self-efficacy on distress.
Fig 2
Fig 2. The standard model for self-efficacy on anxiety.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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