Depressive Symptoms, Anxiety, and Quality of Life in Hemodialysis Patients and Their Caregivers: A Dyadic Analysis

The current study aimed to examine the effect of depressive and anxiety symptoms on physical and psychological quality of life (QOL) in end-stage renal disease patient-family caregiver dyads using the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. Dyads' (N = 120) symptoms of anxiety and depression and QOL were assessed via the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the World Health Organization (WHO)QOL-BREF, respectively. The depression scores were higher (worse) in patients than in caregivers (8.74 +/- 5.23 vs. 6.9 +/- 3.9, t[df 119] = 3.339, p = .001). Patients had lower (worse) scores on the physical domain of QOL than the caregivers (47.37 +/- 22.9 vs. 64.1 +/- 17.49, t[df 119] = -7.165, p < .001). Anxiety and depressive symptoms exhibited actor effects on the physical and psychological QOL of the dyad. Only depressive symptoms in caregivers exhibited a partner effect on the psychological domain of QOL in patients (beta = -.745, p < .05). In conclusion, anxiety and depressive symptoms in both patients and caretakers are equally crucial in end-stage renal disease management.