Anxiety as a mediator between symptom distress and quality of life in peritoneal dialysis patients: insights from mediation analysis and nonlinear models

Objectives This study investigates anxiety’s role as a mediator between symptom burden and quality of life in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis, emphasizing the potential for targeted interventions to enhance patient outcomes.Methods In a cross-sectional design, 320 peritoneal dialysis patient...

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Main Authors: Sixia Chen, Yun Wang, Sheng Feng, Mingli Shen, Fan Zhang, Kai Song, Wenwen Li, Yun- Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Renal Failure
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/0886022X.2025.2458763
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author Sixia Chen
Yun Wang
Sheng Feng
Mingli Shen
Fan Zhang
Kai Song
Wenwen Li
Yun- Wang
author_facet Sixia Chen
Yun Wang
Sheng Feng
Mingli Shen
Fan Zhang
Kai Song
Wenwen Li
Yun- Wang
author_sort Sixia Chen
collection DOAJ
description Objectives This study investigates anxiety’s role as a mediator between symptom burden and quality of life in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis, emphasizing the potential for targeted interventions to enhance patient outcomes.Methods In a cross-sectional design, 320 peritoneal dialysis patients were recruited, with 305 providing valid responses (response rate: 95.31%). Symptom burden (occurrence and distress), anxiety levels, and quality of life were measured using validated tools. Multiple linear regression and restricted cubic spline models assessed associations, using β with a 95% confidence interval (95% CI), while mediation analysis with 1000 bootstrap samples quantified anxiety’s mediating effects.Results Participants reported an average of 8.2 ± 2.3 concurrent symptoms, with ‘worry,’, ‘tiredness’, and ‘dry skin’ being the most severe. Both symptom number (β = −0.90; 95%CI: −1.26 to −0.55) and distress (β = −1.20; 95%CI: −1.41 to −0.98) negatively correlated with quality of life. Anxiety mediated these relationships significantly, explaining 38.9% (95%CI: 18%–62%) and 33.3% (95%CI: 19%–49%) of the total effects for symptom number and distress, respectively. Restricted cubic spline models revealed an ‘L-shaped’ relationship between symptom burden and quality of life.Conclusions Anxiety significantly mediates the relationship between symptom burden and quality of life in peritoneal dialysis patients. These findings underline the importance of integrating psychological interventions and routine symptom screening into patient care to enhance quality of life. Future research should explore longitudinal designs and standardized intervention strategies.
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spelling doaj-art-ffaba6d1950f497ba8c6f22944267e422025-02-04T06:08:39ZengTaylor & Francis GroupRenal Failure0886-022X1525-60492025-12-0147110.1080/0886022X.2025.2458763Anxiety as a mediator between symptom distress and quality of life in peritoneal dialysis patients: insights from mediation analysis and nonlinear modelsSixia Chen0Yun Wang1Sheng Feng2Mingli Shen3Fan Zhang4Kai Song5Wenwen Li6Yun- WangDepartment of Nursing, Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, ChinaDepartment of Nursing, Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, ChinaDepartment of Nursing, Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, ChinaDepartment of Nursing, Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, ChinaDepartment of Nephrology A, Longhua Hospital Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Nursing, Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, ChinaDepartment of Nursing, Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, ChinaObjectives This study investigates anxiety’s role as a mediator between symptom burden and quality of life in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis, emphasizing the potential for targeted interventions to enhance patient outcomes.Methods In a cross-sectional design, 320 peritoneal dialysis patients were recruited, with 305 providing valid responses (response rate: 95.31%). Symptom burden (occurrence and distress), anxiety levels, and quality of life were measured using validated tools. Multiple linear regression and restricted cubic spline models assessed associations, using β with a 95% confidence interval (95% CI), while mediation analysis with 1000 bootstrap samples quantified anxiety’s mediating effects.Results Participants reported an average of 8.2 ± 2.3 concurrent symptoms, with ‘worry,’, ‘tiredness’, and ‘dry skin’ being the most severe. Both symptom number (β = −0.90; 95%CI: −1.26 to −0.55) and distress (β = −1.20; 95%CI: −1.41 to −0.98) negatively correlated with quality of life. Anxiety mediated these relationships significantly, explaining 38.9% (95%CI: 18%–62%) and 33.3% (95%CI: 19%–49%) of the total effects for symptom number and distress, respectively. Restricted cubic spline models revealed an ‘L-shaped’ relationship between symptom burden and quality of life.Conclusions Anxiety significantly mediates the relationship between symptom burden and quality of life in peritoneal dialysis patients. These findings underline the importance of integrating psychological interventions and routine symptom screening into patient care to enhance quality of life. Future research should explore longitudinal designs and standardized intervention strategies.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/0886022X.2025.2458763Peritoneal dialysissymptom distressanxietyquality of lifemediation analysisrestricted cubic splines
spellingShingle Sixia Chen
Yun Wang
Sheng Feng
Mingli Shen
Fan Zhang
Kai Song
Wenwen Li
Yun- Wang
Anxiety as a mediator between symptom distress and quality of life in peritoneal dialysis patients: insights from mediation analysis and nonlinear models
Renal Failure
Peritoneal dialysis
symptom distress
anxiety
quality of life
mediation analysis
restricted cubic splines
title Anxiety as a mediator between symptom distress and quality of life in peritoneal dialysis patients: insights from mediation analysis and nonlinear models
title_full Anxiety as a mediator between symptom distress and quality of life in peritoneal dialysis patients: insights from mediation analysis and nonlinear models
title_fullStr Anxiety as a mediator between symptom distress and quality of life in peritoneal dialysis patients: insights from mediation analysis and nonlinear models
title_full_unstemmed Anxiety as a mediator between symptom distress and quality of life in peritoneal dialysis patients: insights from mediation analysis and nonlinear models
title_short Anxiety as a mediator between symptom distress and quality of life in peritoneal dialysis patients: insights from mediation analysis and nonlinear models
title_sort anxiety as a mediator between symptom distress and quality of life in peritoneal dialysis patients insights from mediation analysis and nonlinear models
topic Peritoneal dialysis
symptom distress
anxiety
quality of life
mediation analysis
restricted cubic splines
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/0886022X.2025.2458763
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