Hope predicted quality of life in dyads of community-dwelling patients receiving hemodialysis and their family caregivers

End-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients on hemodialysis (HD) and their family caregivers (FCGs) reported poor quality of life (QoL). Hope has shown association with QoL at the individual level. However, the association between hope and QoL in dyads has never been examined in particular in dyads of patients and FCGs. The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between hope and QoL in dyads of ESRD patients on HD and their family caregivers (FCGs).

This was a cross-sectional study in which data were collected from 123 community-dwelling patient–FCG dyads. Hope was measured using the Herth Hope Index and QoL was measured using the World Health Organization Quality of Life BREF. The Actor–Partner Interdependence Model multilevel modeling dyadic analysis approach was used to analyze the data.

Each individual’s hope scores predicted their own better QoL scores. Patients’ hope scores predicted better Environmental domain QoL in FCGs.

All domains of QoL of patients and their FCGs are related to their own level of hope. Better FCGs’ environment domain of QoL was linked to high patients’ levels of hope. Improving QoL may be achieved by targeting and improving hope in both members of the dyad.