Caregiver burden, coping strategies, and quality of life among family caregivers of adult cancer patients: A multiple regression and mediation analysis in Southern Vietnam

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to: (i) describle caregiver burden, coping strategies, and quality of life among family caregivers of adult cancer patients; (ii) explore the relationships among these variables using multiple regression analysis; and (iii) develop a model to improve family caregivers’ quality of life based on the findings. Methods: A cross-sectional analytical design was employed. Data were collected from 380 family caregivers of adult cancer patients using standardized questionnaires: The Zarit Burden Inventory-22 (ZBI-22), The Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory (Brief-COPE), and the Caregiver Quality of Life-Cancer (CQOL-C). Data were analyzed using multiple regression and mediation analyses to explore relationships between variables. Results:Caregiver burden, coping strategies, and quality of life were all reported at moderate levels, with overall mean scores of 2.93 ± 0.67, 3.02 ± 0.48, and 2.65 ± 0.49, respectively. Quality of life showed a very strong negative correlation with caregiver burden (r = – 0.76, p < 0.001) and a very strong positive correlation with coping strategies (r = 0.86, p < 0.001). Regression analysis revealed that caregiver burden and coping strategies explained 72.4% of the variance in family caregivers’ quality of life. Path analysis within the GLM framework further indicated a significant indirect effect of coping strategies on quality of life mediated by caregiver burden (β = 0.28, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Family caregivers experienced a moderate level of burden and used coping strategies at a moderate level, resulting in a moderate quality of life. These findings emphasize the need for interventions aimed at reducing caregiver burden and strengthening adaptive coping to enhance caregivers’ overall well-being.