School of Psychology, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China.
School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China.
Eur J Cancer Care (Engl). 2022 Jan;31(1):e13523. doi: 10.1111/ecc.13523. Epub 2021 Oct 17.
Family caregivers of cancer patients were often referred to the 'forgotten patients', yet little researches have been conducted on their mental health. Rumination might put family caregivers at risk for psychological distress during the caregiving, such as stress and anxiety. The aim of the present study was to explore the relationship between rumination, stress and anxiety among family caregivers of breast cancer patients in China and examine the mediating role of avoidant coping in this relationship.
Face-to-face questionnaire interviews were conducted with a sample of 99 caregivers from the public oncology hospital. They were assessed with stress, anxiety, rumination and avoidant coping by Chinese Perceived Stress Scale, Zung's Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, Ruminative Responses Scale and Coping Strategy Indicator. Structural equation modelling was applied to assess the mediation analysis.
The reporting scores of participants indicated the incidence of anxiety was 17.2%. Rumination could directly predict stress (β = 0.58, p < 0.01) and anxiety (β = 0.46, p < 0.01) and also predict stress and anxiety via the mediator of avoidant coping (stress: β = 0.087, p < 0.01; anxiety: β = 0.109, p < 0.01).
The important role played by family caregivers in supporting breast cancer patients is well recognised. The findings suggested that rumination and avoidant coping may be two critical risk factors for family caregivers of breast cancer developing stress and anxiety. This study highlights the importance of preventing avoidant coping, which plays a critical role for developing interventions for this vulnerable group.
癌症患者的家庭照顾者常被称为“被遗忘的患者”，但针对他们心理健康的研究却很少。反刍可能会使家庭照顾者在照顾过程中面临心理困扰的风险，如压力和焦虑。本研究旨在探讨中国乳腺癌患者家庭照顾者反刍、压力和焦虑之间的关系，并检验回避应对在这种关系中的中介作用。
采用方便抽样法，对某公立肿瘤医院的 99 名照顾者进行面对面问卷调查。采用中国版知觉压力量表、zung 焦虑自评量表、反刍思维反应量表和应对策略指标评估照顾者的压力、焦虑、反刍和回避应对。采用结构方程模型进行中介分析。
报告的参与者分数表明焦虑的发生率为 17.2%。反刍可以直接预测压力（β=0.58，p<0.01）和焦虑（β=0.46，p<0.01），也可以通过回避应对的中介来预测压力和焦虑（压力：β=0.087，p<0.01；焦虑：β=0.109，p<0.01）。
家庭照顾者在支持乳腺癌患者方面的重要作用得到了广泛认可。研究结果表明，反刍和回避应对可能是乳腺癌患者家庭照顾者产生压力和焦虑的两个关键风险因素。本研究强调了预防回避应对的重要性，这对为这一弱势群体制定干预措施具有重要意义。
