Aims and objectives The aim of this study was to explore the moderated mediation mechanism of the relationships among family function, self‐efficacy, care hours per day, closeness and benefit finding in family caregivers of patients with stroke in China. Background Benefit finding can provide a new means of resolving depression among family members caring for an ill loved one. However, current research has paid little attention to the benefit finding of family caregivers of stroke patients in China. Design A cross‐sectional study. Methods Three hundred fifty family caregivers of patients with stroke were recruited from community service centres and hospitals in Zhengzhou, China. The participants completed the family APGAR index, caregiver benefit finding scale and Chinese general self‐efficacy scale during a study conducted in 2017. Descriptive analyses and a moderated mediation model were computed. Reporting adhered to the STROBE checklist. Results A total of 311 family caregivers completed this study. Closeness between family caregivers and patients with stroke moderated the relationship between family function and caregiver benefit finding. Self‐efficacy partially mediated the relationship between family function and caregiver benefit finding; moreover, care hours per day moderated the mediation. Conclusion This study shows important factors associated with benefit finding in family caregivers of patients with stroke. This indicates elements that could help improve benefit finding intervention programmes for family caregivers of patients with stroke. Relevance to clinical practice The findings in our study provide valuable information on benefit finding and indicate some interventions to improve the mental health of family caregivers of stroke patients.

No abstract

IntroductionThe global burden caused by stroke is shifting to young and middle-aged people. Researchers have emphasised the significance of benefit finding (BF) in psychological health. However, current research has paid little attention to stroke and has discussed BF from only a single perspective, that is, that of either patients or caregivers. Our study aims to understand the changing trajectory, predictors and dyadic interaction of BF in dyads of patient who had a stroke and caregiver.Methods and analysisThis study is a longitudinal mixed-methods, multicentre study. A total of 142 patients who had a stroke and 142 spousal caregivers will be investigated. Participants will be recruited from four large public hospitals in northern China. Quantitative and qualitative data will be collected at five time points (near discharge and 1, 3, 6 and 12 months following discharge). Validated and reliable questionnaires will be used in quantitative studies. Information on sociodemographic data, BF, functional status, perceived stress, coping styles and mutuality will be collected from the dyads. Qualitative data will be collected via semistructured interviews and observations. The growth mixture model will be used to analyse quantitative data, and Colaizzi’s seven-step analysis method will be used to analyse qualitative data. We plan to conduct parallel but separate quantitative and qualitative data analyses and ultimately integrate the data sets to determine confirmation, expansion or discordance.Ethics and disseminationAll participants will be provided with an informed consent form. This study will encode all identifiable data and store all recorded data on a secure research server. This study has been approved by the Ethics Review Committee of the College of Nursing and Health, Zhengzhou University (ZZUIRB2020-53). The results of the longitudinal study will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at national conferences.Trial registration numberChiCTR2000039509.

IntroductionIn recent years, stroke has become more common among young people. Stroke not only has a profound impact on patients’ health but also incurs stress and health threats to their caregivers, especially spousal caregivers. Moreover, the health of stroke survivors and their caregivers is interdependent. To our knowledge, no study has explored dyadic health of young and middle-aged stroke survivors and their spousal caregivers from physiological, psychological and social perspectives. Therefore, this proposed study aims to explore the mechanism of how physiological, psychological and social factors affect dyadic health of young and middle-aged stroke survivors and their spousal caregivers. The findings of this study will provide implications for developing interventions to improve dyadic health of this growing population.Methods and analysesWe will collect data from 57 dyads of young and middle-aged stroke survivors and their spousal caregivers during hospitalisation and at 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after discharge. Questionnaires will be used to collect participants’ demographic information, stress, depression, anxiety, benefit finding, social support, mutuality and quality of life. The following physiological reactions will be collected at baseline, including interleukin 6, tumour necrosis factor-alpha and salivary cortisol.Ethics and disseminationThe study was approved by the ethics review committee of life sciences of Zhengzhou University (No. ZZUIRB2020-53). Prior to being enrolled in the study, participants will be given full and detailed information about the possible risks involved, the informed consent process, confidentiality, the study procedure and secure data storage. Participants will be guaranteed that they can withdraw from the study at any time without providing a reason or leading to any consequences. Both oral and written informed consent will be obtained from all participants. The findings of this proposed study will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals and academic conferences.