The Impact of Depression on Quality of Life in Caregivers of Cancer Patients: A Moderated Mediation Model of Spousal Relationship and Caring Burden

Family caregivers play an important role in managing and supporting cancer patients. Although depression in family caregivers is known to negatively affect caregiver health, the mechanism by which it affects caregivers is not clear. The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of depression on quality of life (QoL) in family caregivers of patients with cancer. Specifically, this study examined (1) whether caring burden mediates the relationship between depression and QoL, and (2) how this mediating effect varies depending on the caregiver’s relationship with the patient. This study performed a secondary analysis on cross-sectional survey data. Ninety-three family caregivers of cancer patients were included in the study. Moderated mediation analyses were conducted using PROCESS macro with the regression bootstrapping method. The moderated mediation models and the indirect effect of caregiver depression on QoL through caring burden were significantly different depending on caregivers’ relationships with patients (i.e., spousal or non-spousal). Specifically, the indirect effect of caregiver depression on QoL was greater for the patient’s spouse than for other family caregivers. Healthcare providers should focus on identifying caregivers’ depression and relationship with the patient and offer tailored support and intervention to mitigate the caring burden and improve the caregivers’ QoL.