Avoidant coping as mediator of the relationship between rumination and mental health among family caregivers of Chinese breast cancer patients

Introduction Family caregivers of cancer patients were often referred to the ‘forgotten patients’, yet little researches have been conducted on their mental health. Rumination might put family caregivers at risk for psychological distress during the caregiving, such as stress and anxiety. The aim of the present study was to explore the relationship between rumination, stress and anxiety among family caregivers of breast cancer patients in China and examine the mediating role of avoidant coping in this relationship. Methods Face‐to‐face questionnaire interviews were conducted with a sample of 99 caregivers from the public oncology hospital. They were assessed with stress, anxiety, rumination and avoidant coping by Chinese Perceived Stress Scale, Zung's Self‐Rating Anxiety Scale, Ruminative Responses Scale and Coping Strategy Indicator. Structural equation modelling was applied to assess the mediation analysis. Results The reporting scores of participants indicated the incidence of anxiety was 17.2%. Rumination could directly predict stress (β = 0.58, p