School of Nursing, Changsha Medical University, Changsha, China.
Department of Breast Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
Front Public Health. 2024 Nov 1;12:1367029. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1367029. eCollection 2024.
Family hardiness is a key variable contributing to positive family functioning, which has significant effects on the quality of life and the mental health of patientsand caregivers. The factors that contribute to family hardiness support both the psychological and physical well-being of caregivers is unknown. More specifically, the relationship of family hardiness with attachment and caregiver preparedness has not been explored.
The current study aimed to investigate the family hardiness in caregivers of breast cancer patients and explore the relationship with attachment and caregiver preparedness and identify the associated factors.
This cross-sectional correlational study was conducted from March to July, 2022. 140 caregivers of breast cancer patients were recruited in two IIIA-grade hospitals in Hunan Province using convenience sampling. Data were collected using a personal characteristics questionnaire, The Family Hardiness Index (FHI), Caregiver Preparedness Scale (CPS), and the Experiences in Close Relationships Inventory-Revised Edition (ECR-R). Chi-square, Pearson's correlation coefficient, generalized additive model and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed.
A total of 140 caregivers participated in the study. The mean age of participants was (42.29 ± 14.54) years and most of them were male (57.1%). The mean FHI score of caregivers was 58.11 ± 5.67. Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that family hardiness is affected by ECR-R, CPS, education level, and knowledge of breast cancer. The score of CPS was positively associated with family hardiness ( = 0.265, < 0.001), whereas ECR-R negatively predicted family hardiness ( = -0.078, < 0.001).
Family hardiness plays a critical role in helping caregivers manage the stresses associated with providing care to breast cancer patients. Enhancing caregiver preparedness and education, as well as addressing attachment-related issues, can significantly improve family hardiness. In light of our findings, we suggest that closer relationships within families, adding preparedness and knowledge of disease should be encouraged during the care of breast cancer patients.
家庭坚韧是促进积极家庭功能的关键变量，对患者和照顾者的生活质量和心理健康有重大影响。支持照顾者的家庭坚韧的因素有助于他们的心理和身体健康，但这方面的情况尚不清楚。具体而言，家庭坚韧与依恋和照顾者准备之间的关系尚未得到探索。
本研究旨在调查乳腺癌患者照顾者的家庭坚韧程度，并探讨其与依恋和照顾者准备之间的关系，以及确定相关因素。
本横断面相关性研究于 2022 年 3 月至 7 月在湖南省两家三级甲等医院进行。采用便利抽样法招募了 140 名乳腺癌患者的照顾者。使用个人特征问卷、家庭坚韧度指数（FHI）、照顾者准备量表（CPS）和修订版亲密关系经历量表（ECR-R）收集数据。采用卡方检验、皮尔逊相关系数、广义加性模型和多因素逻辑回归分析。
共 140 名照顾者参与了研究。参与者的平均年龄为（42.29±14.54）岁，大多数为男性（57.1%）。照顾者的 FHI 平均得分为 58.11±5.67。多元线性回归分析表明，家庭坚韧度受 ECR-R、CPS、教育水平和乳腺癌知识的影响。CPS 得分与家庭坚韧度呈正相关（=0.265，<0.001），而 ECR-R 则负预测家庭坚韧度（=−0.078，<0.001）。
家庭坚韧度在帮助照顾者应对照顾乳腺癌患者带来的压力方面起着关键作用。增强照顾者的准备度和教育水平，以及解决依恋相关问题，可显著提高家庭坚韧度。鉴于我们的发现，我们建议在照顾乳腺癌患者时，应鼓励家庭内部更紧密的关系，增加疾病的准备和知识。
