An Analysis of the Correlation Between Intimate Relationships and Caregiver Strain in Spouses of Kidney Transplant...

Examine the existing dynamics of intimate relationships between kidney transplant recipients and their spouses, assess its relationship with the hardship of spousal caring, and establish a foundation for the creation of pertinent interventions to mitigate caregiving burdens.

A convenience sampling method was employed to select 76 pairs of recipients and spouses who were consistently monitored postkidney transplantation at a tertiary hospital in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China, utilizing a general information questionnaire, the Intimate Bond Measure (IBM), Lock-Wallace Marital Adjustment Test (MAT), Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview (ZBI) and Distress Thermometer (DT) for a cross-sectional study.

The IBM scores for kidney transplant recipients and their spouses were (40.86 ± 8.05) and (41.09 ± 7.79), respectively, indicating a moderate level of marital intimacy. The MAT scores for recipients and spouses were (122.38 ± 27.08) and (121.76 ± 22.73), respectively, with 80.26% demonstrating good marital adjustment. The spouses' total ZBI score was (19.30 ± 10.98), reflecting a mildly burdensome level. The total DT score for spouses was 3.12 ± 2.30, with 26.32% exhibiting psychological disturbances requiring further evaluation and treatment. Correlation analysis indicated a negative relationship between spousal intimacy and spousal care burden (P < .01). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that four variables-income level of kidney transplant recipients, duration of recipients' illness, frequency of intimacy behaviors, and degree of spousal psychological distress-were included in the regression equation, collectively accounting for 77.9% of the total variance in spousal care burden (P < .001).

The intimacy between spouses in kidney transplant recipients is inversely related to the stress of caregiving experienced by the spouse. Healthcare professionals should underscore the beneficial role of spouses in therapeutic care, implementing strategies to enhance spousal intimacy and alleviate caregiving burdens, thereby improving the quality of spousal care and the survival outcomes of kidney transplant recipients.