Objective

Few studies have explored the shared effects of Parkinson's disease (PD) within patient/caregiver dyads. To fill this gap, we compared stress-health outcomes of patients with those of caregiving-partners, examined individual stress-health associations, and explored stress-health associations within dyads.

Method

A total of 18 PD patient/caregiving-partner dyads (N = 36) reported on disease-specific distress, anxiety, quality of life (QOL), and provided saliva samples for cortisol assessment. This cross-sectional, secondary analysis of a prospective pilot study used Actor-Partner Interdependence Models to test aims.

Results

Patients reported greater anxiety, poorer QOL, and demonstrated flatter cortisol slopes and higher mean bedtime cortisol compared to caregiving-partners. Both patients and caregiving-partners with greater anxiety had elevated bedtime cortisol and poorer QOL. Greater disease-specific distress in an individual was associated with higher diurnal mean cortisol in their partner.

Conclusions

Findings highlight the potential for psychosocial interventions at the dyadic level to reduce shared burden and promote coping among PD patient/caregiving-partner dyads.