Abstract / Summary
Abstract Background This study examined dyadic associations of psychological resilience and positive coping with psychological distress among patients with decompensated cirrhosis and their family caregivers using the actor–partner interdependence model. Methods In this cross-sectional study, 265 matched patient–caregiver dyads were recruited from a tertiary center by convenience sampling. Participants completed a general information questionnaire, the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale, and the positive coping dimension of the Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire. Differences between patients and caregivers were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, correlations were examined using Spearman analysis, and dyadic associations were tested using unadjusted actor–partner interdependence models. Bootstrap resampling with 5,000 replications was used to estimate the ratio of partner effects to actor effects. Results Patients reported higher psychological distress than caregivers (27.76 ± 8.80 vs. 25.15 ± 7.54) and lower resilience and positive coping scores (all P < 0.001). Patient psychological distress was strongly correlated with caregiver psychological distress (r = 0.814, P < 0.001). Resilience and positive coping in both dyad members were negatively correlated with psychological distress in both members (all P < 0.001). Actor–partner interdependence models showed that resilience and positive coping were negatively associated with both one’s own distress and the other member’s distress. Pattern testing indicated that patient resilience and patient positive coping showed couple patterns, whereas caregiver resilience and caregiver positive coping showed mixed patterns. Conclusions These findings suggest that psychological distress and positive psychological resources are interdependent within patient–caregiver dyads affected by decompensated cirrhosis. Dyadic psychosocial assessment and support may be useful in addressing distress and strengthening resilience and coping in this population.