Cancer-related challenges, unmet needs and emotional distress in male caregivers of women with breast cancer: the influence of self-efficacy.

To explore the challenges, unmet needs, and emotional distress of male caregivers of women with breast cancer (BC); and determine how self-efficacy relates to these variables. Adult (≥18 yr) males currently caring for or who had previously cared for a woman with BC completed questionnaires assessing their emotional distress, challenges, unmet needs, and self-efficacy. Bivariate correlations determined the relationships between the variables used in the regression and mediation models. Mediation analysis examined whether cancer-related challenges and unmet needs predict emotional distress and whether self-efficacy mediates the relationships between challenges, unmet needs and distress, while accounting for education, employment, and time from diagnosis. Self-efficacy was significantly negatively related to emotional distress, challenges experienced, and unmet needs. The mediation model accounted for a significant 18% of emotional distress variability. Self-efficacy did not mediate the relationship between challenges and emotional distress or between unmet needs and emotional distress. Male caregivers may benefit from interventions to enhance self-efficacy. Self-efficacy is a modifiable variable, ideally suited for inclusion in supportive interventions.