Testing a Preliminary Live with Love Conceptual Framework for cancer couple dyads: A mixed-methods study

Area of Science:

• Oncology Nursing
• Family Caregiving
• Psychosocial Oncology

Background:

• Cancer profoundly impacts couples, necessitating dyadic coping strategies.
• Existing frameworks may not fully capture the complexities of couples navigating cancer.
• Spousal caregivers and patients face unique challenges requiring a dyadic approach.

Purpose of the Study:

• To empirically test the Preliminary Live with Love Conceptual Framework (P-LLCF).
• To examine the framework's applicability to spousal caregiver-patient couples coping with cancer.
• To validate the P-LLCF's components and their interrelationships.

Main Methods:

• Mixed-methods approach integrating qualitative and quantitative data.
• Concept and theory analysis to refine framework components.
• Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to test hypothesized relationships within the P-LLCF.

Main Results:

• Qualitative analysis confirmed P-LLCF concepts' relevance and consistency with Chinese couples' experiences.
• Quantitative SEM demonstrated significant interrelationships among P-LLCF components: event situation, dyadic mediators, appraisal, coping, and outcomes.
• The event situation directly and indirectly influences dyadic outcomes, mediated by dyadic factors.

Conclusions:

• The study provides empirical support for the P-LLCF's structure and relationships.
• Findings offer healthcare professionals a validated framework for designing supportive interventions for couples facing cancer.
• The P-LLCF can guide the development of targeted programs to enhance dyadic coping and outcomes.