The vital role played by primary caregivers in caring for cancer patients is well-recognized, but the caregiver burden and impact on family functioning to caregivers’ mental health is poorly understood. This study examined the prospective and reciprocal relationships between family functioning, caregiver burden, and mental health. We aimed to determine whether inferior family functioning and heavy caregiver burden act as risk factors for mental health, as consequences of mental health, or both.

中文翻译：

---

癌症患者主要照顾者照顾者负担与心理健康之间的相互关联：一项纵向研究

主要照顾者在照顾癌症患者中发挥的重要作用已得到广泛认可，但对照顾者的负担和对照顾者心理健康的家庭功能的影响却知之甚少。本研究考察了家庭功能、照顾者负担和心理健康之间的前瞻性和相互关系。我们旨在确定较差的家庭功能和沉重的照顾者负担是心理健康的危险因素，还是心理健康的后果，或两者兼而有之。