TY - JOUR
T1 - Causal attributions and their impact on psychosocial functioning in head and neck cancer patient–caregiver dyads
T2 - a preliminary, longitudinal study
AU - Burris, Jessica L.
AU - Rivera-Rivera, Jessica N.
AU - Armeson, Kent
AU - Zapka, Jane
AU - Alberg, Anthony J.
AU - Day, Terry A.
AU - Sterba, Katherine R.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2018, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.
PY - 2019/4/15
Y1 - 2019/4/15
N2 - Purpose: This longitudinal study explores causal attributions in newly diagnosed head/neck cancer (HNC) patients and their caregivers. Methods: Perceptions of causal attributions and associated level of responsibility regarding each patient’s HNC diagnosis at baseline (n = 72 dyads) were described and then tested as predictors of depressive symptoms, cancer worry, and perceived support 6 months later. Results: When causes were reported, tobacco and alcohol use topped the list of both patients and caregivers. Three-quarters of dyads agreed about perceptions of the patients’ responsibility in causing their HNC. Some dyad-level patterns of causal attribution were associated with patients’ and caregivers’ cancer worry (p < 0.05) and caregivers’ perceived support (p < 0.05) in unadjusted models. Conclusions: This preliminary study indicates that causal attributions warrant further exploration in HNC patient–caregiver dyads specifically, as well as studies of quality of life in patient–caregiver dyads more broadly considered.
AB - Purpose: This longitudinal study explores causal attributions in newly diagnosed head/neck cancer (HNC) patients and their caregivers. Methods: Perceptions of causal attributions and associated level of responsibility regarding each patient’s HNC diagnosis at baseline (n = 72 dyads) were described and then tested as predictors of depressive symptoms, cancer worry, and perceived support 6 months later. Results: When causes were reported, tobacco and alcohol use topped the list of both patients and caregivers. Three-quarters of dyads agreed about perceptions of the patients’ responsibility in causing their HNC. Some dyad-level patterns of causal attribution were associated with patients’ and caregivers’ cancer worry (p < 0.05) and caregivers’ perceived support (p < 0.05) in unadjusted models. Conclusions: This preliminary study indicates that causal attributions warrant further exploration in HNC patient–caregiver dyads specifically, as well as studies of quality of life in patient–caregiver dyads more broadly considered.
KW - Cancer
KW - Causal attributions
KW - Distress
KW - Dyads
KW - Social support
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U2 - 10.1007/s11136-018-2078-y
DO - 10.1007/s11136-018-2078-y
M3 - Article
C2 - 30515660
AN - SCOPUS:85057722965
SN - 0962-9343
VL - 28
SP - 1105
EP - 1109
JO - Quality of Life Research
JF - Quality of Life Research
IS - 4
ER -