Objective: Little is known about relationships between patient spiritual well-being and caregiver outcomes for those with advanced cancer. We were interested in examining the relationship between patient physical quality of life (QOL) and caregiver depression and to also evaluate whether patient spiritual well-being (SWB) played a mediating role in this relationship.
Method: This is a prospective longitudinal study that was conducted in the outpatient clinics at a university-affiliated comprehensive cancer center. 226 patients with Stage III or IV cancer (lung, GI, GYN) and their primary caregivers were interviewed upon enrollment into the study and three months later. Measures of spirituality, health-related quality of life, and physical functioning were included in the interviews.
Results: Key findings were that the relationship between patient physical QOL and caregiver depression was inverse and moderate (β = -0.24, p = 0.004) and that patient SWB (meaning/peace) played a significant (p = 0.02) and medium-size role (β = -0.31) in mediating the relationship between patient physical QOL and caregiver depression. The nature of these relationships was stable over time.
Significance of results: Patients' spirituality is central to their coping and adjusting to cancer. It is this aspect of patient overall quality of life that mediates the relationship to caregiver well-being. The most potent intervention for caregiver depression may be attending to patient spiritual distress.