Table 4 The difference in quality of life (SF8), caregivers’ quality of life (FQL), and hope based on individual variables

Gender of caregivers

Female

23.61 (6.14)

^aU = 9837

Z = −1.83

p = 0.06

102 (18.69)

^aU = 10,366

Z = -1.12

p = 0.26

24.91 (3.77)

^aU = 10,958

Z = −0.33

p = 0.73

Male

25.30 (7.31)

104.57 (19.12)

25 (3.89)

Marital status

Single

26.68 (7.80)

^bχ²

= 4.61

df ₌ 3

p = 0.20

105.72 (18.17)

^bχ²₌ 2.79

d_{f =} 3

p = 0.42

24.34 (3.80)

^bχ²

= 1.65

d_{f =} 3

p = 0.64

Married

23.95 (6.47)

102.53 (18.81)

25.11 (3.76)

Divorced

22.50 (3.69)

104 (32.90)

22.50 (7.14)

Widowed

25 (8.40)

117.75 (19.05)

25.50 (3.87)

Place of residence

Urban

24.81 (6.97)

^bχ²

= 2.63

d_{f =} 2

p = 0.268

105.58 (19.28)

^bχ²

= 14.58

d_{f =} 2

p = 0.001

25.32 (3.72)

^bχ²

= 7.04

d_{f =} 2

p = 0.02

Suburban

22.17 (4.65)

89.88 (12.04)

23.05 (4.52)

Rural

23.94 (6.57)

100.58 (17.86)

24.49 (3.78)

Level of education

Illiterate or junior-high-school diploma

22.30 (5.63)

^bχ²

= 22.17

d_{f =} 6

p = 0.001

98.65 (16.82)

^bχ²

= 17.94

d_{f =} 6

p = 0.006

24.70 (3.55)

^bχ²

= 8.039

d_{f =} 6

p = 0.235

High-school diploma

25.25 (6.59)

103.89 (18.56)

24.76 (4.05)

Academic degree

27.46 (5.36)

109.69 (20.69)

25.94 (3.7)

Occupational status

Housewife

23.47 (6.19)

^bχ²

= 19.11

d_{f =} 8

p = 0.014

100.97 (18.10)

^bχ² = 11.90

d_{f =} 8

p = 0.156

24.83 (3.78)

^bχ² = 16.36

d_{f =} 8

p = 0.037

Employed

26.22 (7.71)

104.75 (18.67)

25.05 (3.05)

Unemployed

21.25 (5.79)

89.87 (12.33)

23.31 (3.71)

Retired

23.48 (6.85)

107.09 (17.81)

25.96 (3.39)

Student

29.75 (5.37)

107.75 (13.91)

24 (3.16)

Level of income

Sufficient

30.14 (7.71)

^bχ² = 32.41

d_{f =} 2

p = 0.000

113.66 (17.80)

^bχ² = 23.17

df = 2

p = 0.000

26.55 (3.52)

^bχ² = 11.40

d_{f =} 2

p = 0.003

Moderate

25.57 (6.58)

107.06 (18.59)

25.52 (3.60)

Insufficient

22.64 (5.99)

98.82 (18.13)

24.29 (3.89)

Type of insurance

Social security

24.80 (6.66)

^bχ² = 4.24

d_{f =} 5

p = 0.515

104.86 (19.30)

^bχ² = 5.46

d_{f =} 5

p = 0.362

25.14 (3.96)

^bχ² = 5.90

d_{f =} 5

p = 0.316

Health insurance

23.26 (7.18)

97.93 (18.45)

24 (3.98)

Iranian health insurance

23.79 (6.85)

100.17 (17.79)

25.10 (3.38)

Insurance of villagers

24.68 (5.97)

101.10 (17.23)

24.42 (3.46)

Armed forces

24.91 (8.97)

101.87 (18.86)

25.87 (3.68)

No insurance coverage

21.33 (2.08)

107.33 (25.16)

23 (1)

Kinship

Spouse

22.36 (6.26)

^bχ² = 19.19

d_{f =} 7

p = 0.008

98.97 (17.54)

^bχ² = 15.73

d_{f =} 7

p = 0.02

24.99 (3.36)

^bχ² = 2.73

d_{f =} 7

p = 0.90

Son

25.37 (6.92)

103.98 (18.75)

24.93 (4.13)

Daughter

25.23 (6.84)

104.44 (19.39)

24.64 (3.86)

Father

28 (11.31)

101.50 (26.16)

24 (0)

Mother

25.70 (6.03)

104.30 (19.59)

26.30 (4.29)

Sister

24.30 (4.96)

108.10 (25.15)

25.40 (3.16)

Brother

29.42 (8.03)

111.71 (17.49)

25.28 (6.15)

Son or daughter-in-law

26.82 (6.52)

116 (17.25)

24.76 (4.45)

Living with the patient in the same house

Yes

23.71 (6.52)

^aU = 6104.50

Z = −3.28

p = 0.001

102 (19.16)

^aU = 6921.50

Z = −2.005

p = 0.045

24.71 (3.59)

^aU = 6579

Z = −2.54

p = 0.01

No

26.61 (7.05)

107.04 (17.66)

25.69 (4.41)

Ability to leave the patient alone

Yes

26.07 (6.90)

^bχ² = 12.120

d_{f =} 2

p = 0.002

105.59 (19.42)

^bχ² = 6.78

d_{f =} 2

p = 0.034

24.81 (3.83)

^bχ² = 2.09

d_{f =} 2

p = 0.351

No

22.78 (6.62)

100.28 (20.96)

24.73 (3.72)

To a certain extent

24.23 (6.33)

103.62 (15.32)

25.36 (3.92)

Gender of patient (Recipient of care)

Female

25.21 (6.80)

^aU = 9677.50

Z = −2.08

p = 0.037

106.26 (19.36)

^aU = 9243.50

Z = − 2.66

p = 0.008

25.28 (3.71)

^aU = 10,290

Z = −1.27

p = 0.203

Male

23.63 (6.64)

100.31 (18.05)

24.63 (3.90)