Abstract:

Objective: To explore the actor-partner interdependence between depression, fatigue, and quality of life in lung cancer patients and their spouses. Methods: A total of 240 lung cancer patients and their spouses who received treatment in Affiliated Hospital of Putian University from January 6, 2023 to January 6, 2025 were selected as the research subjects. The Self-rating depression scale (SDS), Fatigue scale-14 (FS-14), and Short-form 36 health survey scale (SF-36) were used to investigate the patients and their spouses. Based on the Actor-partner interdependence model (APIM), the predictive effects of depression and fatigue on the quality of life of both the patients and their spouses were tested. Results: The average SDS score of the 240 lung cancer patients was (49.1±5.3), FS-14 score was (7.2±2.4), SF-36 score was (410.6±76.5). The spouse’s average SDS score was (43.6±5.3), FS-14 score was (5.0±2.2), SF-36 score was (507.7±86.5). The patients’ SDS and FS-14 scores were significantly higher than those of their spouses, while their SF-36 score was significantly lower (t=11.579,10.114,13.029,all Ps<0.001). At the actor-effect level, depression in both patients and their spouses negatively predicted their own quality of life (β=-0.209, P=0.013; β=-0.245, P=0.003), and fatigue in both patients and their spouses negatively predicted their own quality of life (β=-0.177, P=0.018; β=-0.195, P=0.040). In terms of partner effects, depression in patients and their spouses negatively predicted each other’s quality of life (β=-0.214, P=0.007; β=-0.246, P=0.003), and fatigue in patients and their spouses negatively predicted each other’s quality of life (β=-0.262, P=0.001; β=-0.259, P=0.001). Conclusion: Lung cancer patients have higher levels of depression and fatigue than their spouses, and their quality of life is influenced by both themselves and their spouses. It is important to pay attention to the interaction between depression and fatigue in patients and their spouses in order to improve their quality of life.

Key words: Lung neoplasms, Depression, Fatigue, Quality of life, Models, nursing