Moderators of interdependent psychological distress in cancer survivor-caregiver dyads

Background: The purpose of this study was to test dyadic interdependence in psychological distress (anxiety and depressive symptoms) and explore moderators of interdependence among cancer survivors in treatment and their informal caregivers. Methods: Cancer survivors and their caregivers completed measures of anxiety and depressive symptoms, social support, social isolation, and burden of other symptoms, at three points in time over the course of 17 weeks. Results: In 315 dyads, depressive symptoms and anxiety were transmitted from caregivers to survivors. Survivors with high symptom burden or low social support were especially influenced by caregivers’ depressive symptoms. Caregivers who had high social isolation or low social support were most likely to be influenced by survivors’ depressive symptoms. Conclusion: Psychological distress is transmitted within dyads during cancer treatment. Dyadic interdependence was most pronounced from caregivers to survivors. Symptom burden, social isolation, and low social support enhanced this dyadic interdependence.