Relationship between anticipatory grief and dyadic coping in advanced cancer patients and their spouses: An examination based on the actor-partner interdependence model

PURPOSE: This study investigates the associations between anticipatory grief and dyadic coping among advanced cancer patients and their spouses, aiming to provide empirical evidence for the development of family-centered dyadic interventions. METHODS: A total of 230 dyads, consisting of advanced cancer patients and their spouses, were enrolled via convenience sampling from three hospitals in Guangdong Province between June and September 2025. Data acquisition was conducted utilizing a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Dyadic Coping Inventory (DCI), and the Anticipatory Grief Scale (AGS) tailored for patients and spouses. Subsequently, the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM) was constructed to analyze dyadic interactions, with all statistical estimations performed using Mplus software (version 8.3). RESULTS: Based on the results of the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM), significant actor effects were identified, wherein higher levels of anticipatory grief were found to be negatively associated with individual dyadic coping for both patients and spouses (P < 0.001). Furthermore, significant partner effects were established; specifically, patients' dyadic coping was negatively linked to spousal anticipatory grief, and spousal dyadic coping was similarly associated with patients' anticipatory grief (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: An interdependent association is identified between the levels of anticipatory grief and dyadic coping patterns within advanced cancer patient-spouse dyads. Accordingly, the implementation of comprehensive assessments and the formulation of collaborative intervention strategies are advocated for the optimization of mental health and coping capacities for both members of the dyad.