A Dyadic Study on the Relationships Among Health Literacy, Psychological Resilience, and Fear of Disease Progression in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure and Their Caregivers.

OBJECTIVE

This study examined the interactive relationships among health literacy, psychological resilience, and fear of progression (FoP) in patients with chronic heart failure and their caregivers.

METHODS

A total of 300 dyads were recruited. The Actor - Partner Interdependence Mediation Model was used to analyze actor, partner, and mediation effects.

RESULTS

For both patients and caregivers, health literacy and psychological resilience negatively predicted individual FoP. Caregivers' health literacy positively predicted their psychological resilience, while no such association was found in patients. Psychological resilience mediated the health literacy-FoP association in both groups. Patients' health literacy could indirectly alleviate caregivers' FoP via caregivers' psychological resilience.

CONCLUSIONS

FoP in chronic heart failure is a dyadic psychological phenomenon. Interventions should target both patients and their caregivers to reduce fear of disease progression and improve family mental health.Clinical Implications: Dyad-based interventions that enhance health literacy and psychological resilience in both patients and caregivers may effectively alleviate FoP and promote overall family well-being.