Influence of preparedness on anxiety, depression, and quality of life in caregivers of heart failure patients: Testing a model of path analysis

Objectives: Testing the influence of heart failure (HF)caregiver preparedness on anxiety and depression, and the influence of HF caregiver anxiety and depression on caregiver physical and mental QOL. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we used the Caregiver Preparedness Scale (CPS), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)with the anxiety (HADS-A)and depression (HADS-D)subscales, and the Short-Form 12 (SF-12)measuring the physical component summary (PCS)and the mental component summary (MCS)of QOL. Socio-demographic data and patients’ clinic data were also collected. Data analysis was conducted with descriptive statistics, correlations, and path analysis. Results: A total of 366 HF caregiver and patient dyads were enrolled. Caregivers were mostly females (73.3%)with a mean age of 58.61 (SD = 15.66)years. The tested model showed excellent fit indices with the following significant paths: CPS scores predicted HADS-D scores; HADS-A scores predicted MCS scores; and HADS-D scores predicted both PCS and MCS scores. Also, HADS-D mediated the relationship between CPS and MCS scores. Conclusion: Preparedness influences HF caregiver depression and depression influences caregiver physical and mental QOL. Depression mediates between preparedness and HF caregiver mental QOL. Practice implications: Interventions focused on improving HF caregiver preparedness may improve caregivers’ depression and QOL.