Men's Adjustment to Their Partners' Breast Cancer: A Dyadic Coping Perspective

Abstract

The continuing increase in cancer rates among women in the United States is forcing more men to experience the impact of breast cancer on their relationships. Using 71 male partners of newly diagnosed breast cancer patients, this study assessed how dyadic coping strategies affected men's adjustment to their partners' illness. While their partners were undergoing treatment, participants completed standardized instruments that measured emotional well-being, illness intrusiveness, and dyadic coping styles. Regression analysis revealed significant associations between coping styles and illness intrusiveness. In addition, depression predisposed men to poorer adjustment and affected their coping patterns. The findings emphasize that social workers must work with patients and partners to develop positive couple coping strategies. Practice implications for social workers are addressed.

Relational mechanisms and psychological outcomes in couples affected by breast cancer: a systematic narrative analysis of the literature

“…Eight studies used a cross-sectional design to report correlations between relationship and psychological variables. Two studies included couples affected by metastatic breast cancer 45 36. Only three studies38 46 47 were conducted outside of North America and Europe and in cultures that arguably have different values towards marital relationships 38…”

“…Feldman and Broussard48 in a cross-sectional study investigated associations between five dyadic coping patterns (i) dyadic stress communication, (ii) common dyadic coping, (iii) positive dyadic coping, (iv) hostile dyadic coping, and (v) avoidance of dyadic coping, in a cross-sectional study. They examined associations between dyadic coping and emotional well-being and perceptions of illness intrusiveness, which were self-reported by male partners of newly diagnosed breast cancer patients.…”

A dyadic approach to understanding the impact of breast cancer on relationships between partners during early survivorship

“…The advantages of dyadic interviewing extend further to allow insight into how both individuals react and respond within the dyad, providing an alternative interpretation of the experience [70]. There are a growing number of studies utilising a dyadic approach to consider the experience of cancer for partners and spouses [39, 51, 71]. The benefits of a dyadic approach are relevant for exploring breast cancer survivorship, as during this period women and their partners usually need to negotiate and reconsider their previous relationship, routines and responsibilities.…”

“…Some studies report an exacerbation of women and their partners’ existing problems relating to the expression of emotions, less open communication and changes in the usual resolution of problems, all of which may lead to increased stress and conflict [33, 49]. Partners may not respond in a helpful way due to their own distress, resulting in further communication and relationship difficulties [50, 51]. …”

Three Models of Clergy Systems: Analysis of Couple Processes and Spiritual Meaning

“…Reciprocal relational coping responses to stress as well as perceptions of partners' behavior are thus important in coping and decision-making processes. Partner communication patterns can also predict distress, anxiety, depression, adaptation and adjustment (e.g., Feldman and Broussard 2006;Grant et al 2002;Manne et al 2006).…”