Hope and social support in elderly patients with cancer and their partners: an actor–partner interdependence model. (December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Goldzweig, Gil; Baider, Lea; Andritsch, Elisabeth; Rottenberg, Yakir
• Is Part Of: Future oncology. Volume 12:Number 24(2016)
• Page Start: 2801
• Page End: 2809
• Publication Date: 2016-12
• Subjects: distress -- hope -- oldest-old; Oncology -- Periodicals; 616.99405
• DOI: 10.2217/fon-2016-0267
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1479-6694

Abstract

Aim: Assess relationships between oldest-old (minimum 86 years) patients' perceived social support to their own and their spousal caregivers' hope through application of the actor–partner interdependence model (APIM).Patients & methods: 58 dyads of patients and their spousal caregivers completed standardized self-report measures of depression, distress, hope and social support.Results : Patients presented high distress levels. Among patients and spouses, perceived social support was positively correlated to their own level of hope (β = 0.44, p < 0.0001; β = 0.56, p < 0.0001, respectively) and negatively correlated to the other's level of hope (β = -0.25, p < 0.024; β = -0.44, p < 0.0001, respectively).Conclusion: The actor–partner interdependence model was found to be adequate for describing relationships between social support and hope among dyads of oldest-old patients and their spousal caregivers. Patients and caregiver seem to utilize social support to enhance hope.