{
  "abstract": "Background\n\nPrior work has identified the protective effects of relationship quality on cancer outcomes. However, less work has focused on how the cancer experience can change relationship quality.Aims\n\nTo describe neuro-oncology patient-caregiver relationship quality over time and identify the impact of caregiver burden and patient physical and cognitive function on perceptions of relationship quality.Methods\n\nThis is a secondary analysis of data obtained at enrollment and 8 weeks. Actor-partner interdependence models of patient and caregiver ratings of their relationship to each other (Couples Satisfaction Index) over time also included baseline measures of patient cognitive and physical function (Neuro-QOL), caregiver burden (Zarit), and change in these measures.Results\n\nData from 124 neuro-oncology patient-caregiver dyads were analyzed. Relationship quality at both time points, on average, indicated non-distressed relationships, but patients rated relationship quality significantly better than caregivers. Both rated relationship quality significantly worse over time (p values < 0.022). At baseline, caregiver burden was significantly negatively associated with patient (p = 0.014) and caregiver relationship quality (p < 0.001). Patient and caregiver baseline relationship quality predicted their own 8-week scores (actor effect; p values < 0.001). Baseline patient cognitive function (p = 0.011) and change in patient cognitive function (p = 0.039) were positively associated with 8-week patient relationship quality. Change in caregiver burden was negatively associated with 8-week caregiver relationship quality (p < 0.001).Conclusions\n\nPrior research has largely focused on relationship quality as a resource, but factors associated with the cancer experience may impact perceptions of relationship quality. Lowering caregiver burden may be beneficial to preserving this important coping resource.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Family Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, USA.",
    "Department of Health Outcomes & Behavior, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, USA.",
    "Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA.",
    "Neuro-Oncology Program, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, USA."
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 5,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Maija Reblin",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-3108-465X"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Deanna Witte",
      "orcid": "0009-0001-2194-8787"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Kristen J Wells",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-7359-8678"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Peter Forsyth",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-3756-8594"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Margaret M Byrne",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-8143-4702"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/429gf7qr6gkhq.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1002/pon.70634",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13677109",
  "id": "429gf7qr6gkhq",
  "issns": [
    "1057-9249",
    "1099-1611"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42893543",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "3611|Nursing care and research"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7222867732",
  "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13677109?pdf=render",
  "pmcid": "PMC13677109",
  "pmid": "42893543",
  "published": "2026-10-01",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/429gf7qr6gkhq.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:19:16Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42893543",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42893543"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "journal-openalex:F27",
      "subfield": "general"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Caregiver Burden and Neuro-Oncology Patient Function: Impacts on Relationship Quality.",
  "title_text": "Caregiver Burden and Neuro-Oncology Patient Function: Impacts on Relationship Quality.",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:19:16Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/429gf7qr6gkhq",
  "venue": "Psycho-oncology",
  "versions": []
}