A longitudinal analysis of intimacy processes and psychological distress among couples coping with head and neck or lung cancers

Abstract

Individuals diagnosed with lung and head and neck (HN) cancers and their spouses are at increased risk for distress. This study assessed whether the way couples communicate about cancer and their perceptions of relationship intimacy influenced both partners' adjustment. One-hundred thirty-nine patients and their spouses [For purposes of clarity, we refer to the patients' intimate partner as the spouse, regardless of actual marital status and we reserve the term partner to refer to the other person in the couple (i.e., the patient's partner is the spouse and the spouse's partner is the patient)] completed measures of spousal communication, intimacy, and distress at three time points over 6 months. Using multilevel modeling, an over-time actor-partner interdependence model was specified that examined whether intimacy mediated associations between one's own and one's partner's reports of communication at baseline and later distress. Patients and spouses who reported greater baseline distress reported more negative baseline communication as well as lower levels of intimacy and greater distress over time. Mediation analyses showed patients' and spouses' reports of positive spousal communication were associated with less subsequent distress largely through their effects on intimacy. Clinicians working with head and neck or lung cancer patients should assess communication and intimacy because both impact couples' distress.

Holding back, intimacy, and psychological and relationship outcomes among couples coping with prostate cancer.

“…Aspects of the REM have been evaluated. Intimacy has been shown to mediate the association between self-disclosure and relationship satisfaction and/or distress (Manne, Badr, & Kashy, 2012; Manne et al, 2010). Similar findings have been reported for perceived partner disclosure (Manne et al, 2010).…”

The Social Ecology of Adolescents’ Cancer Experience: A Narrative Review and Future Directions

“…For example, the APIM can help identify contributing sources of psychological adjustment within a patient-caregiver dyad (i.e., who is contributing to whose adjustment) and allows for a comparison of these sources (i.e., who is contributing the most to their own or the other person's adjustment). To date, only one study by Juth et al (2015) has utilized the APIM in adolescent cancer patients and their caregivers, but an increasing number of studies have recently applied this approach to examine interpersonal phenomena in adult cancer and other chronic diseases (Burkert et al 2012;Dorros et al 2010;Manne et al 2012;Whisman and Uebelacker 2012). This body of evidence demonstrates that assessing either member of the patient-caregiver dyad without the other provides an incomplete understanding of what each person is going through and an inaccurate interpretation of what contributes to their cancer experience.…”

Validated questionnaires on intimacy in patients who have had cancer

“…[6][7][8][9] Problems with intimacy in patients with a history of gynaecological, 10 breast, 11 and prostate 12 cancer are often identified during consultations because of their obvious effects on sexual function, but this is not the case in patients with cancer of the head and neck. Other problems need to be resolved in a limited consultation time, [13][14][15][16] and, perhaps, clinicians fail to recognise the mouth as a "sexual organ".…”