Dyadic associations between psychological distress and sleep disturbance among Chinese patients with cancer and their spouses

Background Patients with cancer and their spouses usually both suffer, but the dyadic effects have not been thoroughly investigated. This study examined the dyadic effects of psychological distress on sleep disturbance in Chinese couples affected by cancer. Methods Patients with cancer and their spouses (N = 135) participated in this study. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index were used to measure anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbance. Results There were significant patient‐spouse associations on anxiety (r = 0.48, P