Influence of the care burden on quality of life among family caregivers of older patients with gynecological malignant tumors: the mediating role of coping styles

Coping style refers to the cognitive and behavioral strategies individuals use to manage stress. Previous studies have demonstrated that coping style is a correlate of caregiving burden. However, this relational mechanism has not been examined in family caregivers of older patients with gynecological malignancies, a disease that is increasing in the population. This study fills this gap by examining the mediating effect of coping styles on the relationship between the care burden and quality of life among family caregivers of older patients with gynecological malignant tumors. In so doing, it provides empirical evidence to support targeted intervention strategies aimed at alleviating stress among this growing group of caregivers. A survey questionnaire study was conducted with participants recruited using convenience sampling from the gynecological tumor center of a hospital in Beijing between July and December 2024. A total of 210 family caregivers of older patients with gynecological malignant tumors participated. The participants completed the General Information Questionnaire, Caregiver Burden Scale, Health-Related Quality of Life Scale, and Simple Coping Style Scale. The mean caregiver burden score was 48.71 ± 17.56. The mean positive and negative coping scores were 17.73 ± 11.20 and 13.70 ± 7.24, respectively. The mean Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS) scores were 43.07 ± 8.10 and 42.60 ± 9.33, respectively. Care burden showed negative correlations with positive coping, PCS and MCS ( r = − 0.301, − 0.495, − 0.443; P < 0.01), and a positive correlation with negative coping ( r = 0.362; P < 0.01). Positive and negative coping styles partially mediated the association between the care burden and physical and mental health-related quality of life. The mediating effects for the physical health dimension accounted for 13.85% and 14.95% of the total effect, respectively, and those for the mental health dimension accounted for 17.37% and 28.81% of the total effect, respectively. Coping styles were found to mediate the association between caregiving burden and quality of life. Nursing staff should design and implement targeted interventions to encourage positive coping. Longitudinal and intervention studies are needed to establish the temporal ordering of these relationships and determine whether coping-focused support improves quality of life.