Dyadic effects of illness cognition and psychological distress among young and middle-aged couples with colorectal cancer: The mediating role of dyadic coping

Abstract

Abstract Purpose Young and middle-aged colorectal cancer patients, along with their spouses, face heightened vulnerability to psychological distress. The psychological distress of both patients and their partners may be influenced by illness cognition and dyadic coping. To explore the dyadic interplay of illness cognition, dyadic coping, and psychological distress, we aimed to validate dyadic coping as a mediator between illness cognition and psychological distress. Methods We conducted our study with 403 pairs of young and middle-aged patients with colorectal cancer and their partners, recruited from two tertiary hospital between May and September 2023. Participants completed questionnaires measuring illness cognition, dyadic coping and psychological distress. Results Our results revealed that both patients and spouses exhibited actor effects and partner effects regarding positive illness cognition/helplessness on dyadic coping. However, dyadic coping only had actor effects on psychological distress. Furthermore, we verified that dyadic coping mediates the link between positive illness cognition/helplessness and psychological distress. Conclusion These results offer fresh insights into the relationship of illness cognition, dyadic coping, and psychological distress at both individual and dyadic levels. They underscore the importance of promoting positive illness cognition and reducing helplessness in the context of cancer care. Healthcare providers play a crucial role in easing couples' psychological distress through the promotion of positive illness cognition and the reduction of feelings of helplessness.