Analysis of dyadic coping patterns and influencing factors among patients with chronic heart failure and their primary caregivers based on latent profile analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To explore latent profiles of dyadic coping among patients with chronic heart failure and their primary caregivers, and to analyze the demographic characteristics and factors correlated with different profiles. This study aims to provide a reference for healthcare professionals in developing personalized dyadic coping intervention plans. METHODS: A convenience sample of 320 dyads (patients with chronic heart failure and their primary caregivers) was recruited from the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine at a tertiary Grade A hospital in Suzhou between December 2024 and November 2025. Data were collected using questionnaires on general information, the Dyadic Coping Inventory (DCI), and the Self-Regulatory Fatigue Scale (SRF-S). Latent profile analysis (LPA) was employed to identify distinct profiles of dyadic coping within the dyads. Multinomial logistic regression was used to assess the influence of various factors on profile membership. RESULTS: The mean dyadic coping scores were 125.28 ± 16.77 for patients and 126.08 ± 17.13 for caregivers. LPA identified four distinct latent profiles: Moderate Coping Harmony Group (46.25%), Low Coping Alienation Group (20.31%), Moderate-Low Coping Stress Group (19.38%) and High Coping Synergy Group (14.06%). Significant differences were found among the profiles regarding the patient's marital status, monthly household income per capita, NYHA functional class, and self-regulatory fatigue score, as well as the caregiver's gender, BMI, education level, caregiving duration, caregiving confidence, communication frequency with the patient, understanding of the patient's condition, and self-regulatory fatigue score (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Dyadic coping in chronic heart failure patient-caregiver dyads is heterogeneous. Healthcare providers should develop targeted interventions tailored to the specific profile characteristics and influencing factors, treating the patient and caregiver as an integrated unit to enhance dyadic coping for both parties.