Caregiver Burden and Neuro-Oncology Patient Function: Impacts on Relationship Quality.
4 affiliations
- 1Department of Family Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, USA.
- 2Department of Health Outcomes & Behavior, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, USA.
- 3Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA.
- 4Neuro-Oncology Program, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, USA.
Abstract
Background
Prior 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
To 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
This 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
Data 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
Prior 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.
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BibTeX
@article{reblin2026caregiver,
title = {{Caregiver Burden and Neuro-Oncology Patient Function: Impacts on Relationship Quality.}},
author = {Maija Reblin and Deanna Witte and Kristen J Wells and Peter Forsyth and Margaret M Byrne},
journal = {Psycho-oncology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1002/pon.70634},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42893543},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Caregiver Burden and Neuro-Oncology Patient Function: Impacts on Relationship Quality.
AU - Maija Reblin
AU - Deanna Witte
AU - Kristen J Wells
AU - Peter Forsyth
AU - Margaret M Byrne
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - Psycho-oncology
DO - 10.1002/pon.70634
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42893543
AB - Background Prior 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 To 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 This 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 Data 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 Prior 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.
SN - 1057-9249
SN - 1099-1611
ER -