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Study of mutual influence between trait anxiety and risk of depression among older couples facing cancer
Sybille Caillot-Ranjeva1, Samuel Gourlain1, Hélène Amieva1
1University of Bordeaux, Inserm, Bordeaux Population Health Research Center, UMR 1219, 146 rue Léo Saignat, CS61292, F-33076 Bordeaux Cedex, France.
Introduction:
The present study aims to examine the process of mutual influence in older couples with cancer diagnosis by studying their risk of depression.
Materials And Methods:
282 couples with one spouse diagnosed with cancer were selected from the Three-City cohort study. Dyadic analyses were used to determine whether trait anxiety affects the risk of depression and whether a mutual influence process occurs prior and post cancer diagnosis. Cross-sectional analyses were performed at two time-points: before and after receiving the diagnosis.
Results:
A higher level of anxiety among cancer patients resulted in a decreased risk of depression among spousal caregivers. Moreover, a higher anxiety among spousal caregivers increased their own risk of depression, but it didn't influence depression risk among cancer patients. While there is an intra-individual relationship between a higher level of trait anxiety and a greater risk of depression prior to cancer diagnosis, there is no cross-influence between spouses.
Discussion:
The study findings indicate that a dyadic psychological adjustment process might help older adults to cope with cancer by limiting the risk of depression among spousal caregivers.
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