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Engagement in health-promoting behaviors and patient–caregiver interdependence in dyads facing advanced cancer: an exploratory study

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Abstract

Diet and exercise are important for the wellbeing of people with cancer and their family caregivers. Unfortunately, little is known about their behaviors over time or factors that may influence their engagement in these behaviors. This exploratory study examined the influence of chronic conditions, symptom distress, and perceived social support on exercise and diet behaviors of patients with advanced cancer and their caregivers using the actor–partner interdependence mediation model (APIMeM) and interdependence theory as guiding frameworks. This secondary analysis uses self-report data from a large RCT (N = 484 patient–caregiver dyads) at three time points: baseline data was collected within three months of the diagnosis, at 3 months post-baseline, and 6 months post-baseline. A number of actor effects were observed: patient and caregiver prior exercise and diet were significant predictors of their own future exercise and diet behaviors; more patient-reported social support was associated with less patient exercise; more patient symptom distress was associated with poorer patient diet; and, more caregiver-reported social support was associated with more caregiver exercise and better caregiver diet. Partner effects were also observed: more patient exercise was positively associated with more caregiver exercise; more patient comorbidities were associated with better caregiver diet; more caregiver-reported social support was associated with better patient diet; and, more patient-reported social support was associated with better caregiver diet. Despite the challenges of advanced cancer and caregiving, past exercise and diet behavior remained a significant predictor of future behavior. Other health problems and perceptions of social support within the dyad may exert a positive or negative influence on patient/caregiver diet and exercise.

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Funding

The preparation of this manuscript by the first author was supported by Rackham Graduate School at the University of Michigan, and the Cancer Health Disparities Training Program (2T32CA128582-06) and Center for Health Equity Research at the University of North Carolina. Data come from a study funded by a grant from the National Cancer Institute (RO1CA107383, L. Northouse).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, 302C Rosenau Hall, CB 7440, Chapel Hill, NC, 27559, USA

    Katrina R. Ellis

  2. School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Mary R. Janevic, Cleopatra H. Caldwell & Nancy K. Janz

  3. Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA

    Trace Kershaw

  4. School of Nursing, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Laurel Northouse

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  1. Katrina R. Ellis
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  6. Laurel Northouse
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Correspondence to Katrina R. Ellis.

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Authors Katrina R. Ellis, Mary R. Janevic, Trace Kershaw, Cleopatra H. Caldwell, Nancy K. Janz, and Laurel Northouse declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. Informed consent was obtained from all patients for being included in the study.

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Ellis, K.R., Janevic, M.R., Kershaw, T. et al. Engagement in health-promoting behaviors and patient–caregiver interdependence in dyads facing advanced cancer: an exploratory study. J Behav Med 40, 506–519 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-016-9819-6

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