Adjustment to Breast Cancer in Couples

Abstract

Present aims were to examine differences in fulfillment of emotional and interactional needs between 128 breast cancer patients and 121 partners and to examine differences in emotional and physical adjustment outcomes using a multivariate model of family adjustment to illness. Intact data series were obtained at 7 to 10 days, at 1, 2, 3, and 6 months, and 1 year postsurgery. The effect of cancer accentuated a complementary pattern for both emotional and interactional needs. The t tests of differences between means were significant at all phases. The main effect of time was statistically significant for scores on Negative Emotions, Psychological Distress, and Psychological Well-being for both partners. Performance of life roles in the vocational, domestic, and social environments also improved significantly over time. Although perceived Health Status remained stable for partners, patients' perceptions improved across phases of illness.