Social constraints on disclosure predict daily well-being in couples coping with early-stage breast cancer.

Pasipanodya, Elizabeth; Parrish, Brendt P.; Laurenceau, Jean-Philippe; Cohen, Lawrence H.; Siegel, Scott D.; Graber, Elana; Belcher, Amber

doi:10.1037/a0028655

Cited by 62 publications

(67 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…Although past coping studies tended to focus on emotional cancer conversations (e.g. Badr et al, 2013; Manne et al, 2004; Pasipanodya et al, 2012), this suggests that couples’ informational exchanges about cancer may also be impactful during the coping process, despite their apparent mundane quality. Just like emotional disclosure, informational conversations may also help patients make sense of and organize their cancer experience, thereby reducing its psychological impact (Helgeson et al, 1999; Lepore & Revenson, 2007).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cancer conversations in context: Naturalistic observation of couples coping with breast cancer.

Robbins¹,

López

Weihs

et al. 2014

Journal of Family Psychology

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This study explored the feasibility and potentials of a naturalistic observation approach to studying dyadic coping in everyday life. Specifically, it examined the natural context and content of the spontaneous cancer conversations of couples coping with cancer, and how they relate to patients’ and spouses’ psychological adjustment. Fifty-six women with breast cancer and their spouses wore the Electronically Activated Recorder (EAR), an unobtrusive observation method that periodically records snippets of ambient sounds, over one weekend to observe the couples’ cancer conversations in their natural context. Both patients and spouses completed self-reported measures of psychological adjustment at baseline and at a two-month follow-up. Cancer was a topic of approximately 5% of couples’ conversations. Cancer conversations occurred more often within the couple than with friends and family, and they were more often informational than emotional or supportive. Consistent with research on the Social Cognitive Processing model (Lepore & Revenson, 2007), spouses’ engagement in emotional disclosure and informational conversation with patients predicted better patient adjustment. This first naturalistic observation study of dyadic coping revealed that the EAR method can be implemented with high compliance and relatively low obtrusiveness within the sensitive context of couples coping with cancer, and having a spouse who discussed cancer in an emotional or informational way predicted better patient adjustment. As a complement to in-lab and other momentary assessment methods, a naturalistic observation approach with a method such as the EAR can contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the role that communication processes play in coping with cancer.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cancer conversations in context: Naturalistic observation of couples coping with breast cancer.

Robbins¹,

López

Weihs

et al. 2014

Journal of Family Psychology

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“…Although some studies have incorporated partner data, most were used to predict survivor outcomes, leaving a major gap in the literature (Badr, Pasipanodya, & Laurenceau, 2013; Pasipanodya et al, 2012). Two studies that examine partner outcomes were framed by the social cognitive processing theory.…”

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confidence: 99%

Relationship Between Depressive Symptoms and Social Cognitive Processing in Partners of Long-Term Breast Cancer Survivors

Cohee¹,

Adams²,

Fife³

et al. 2017

ONF

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Purpose/Objectives To determine 1) if depressive symptoms in partners of long-term breast cancer survivors (BCS) could be predicted by social cognitive processing theory, and 2) if partners of younger and older breast cancer survivors were differentially affected by the cancer experience. Design A cross-sectional, descriptive study utilizing self-report questionnaires. Setting Indiana University and 97 ECOG-ACRIN sites. Sample Partners of breast cancer survivors (n=508) diagnosed 3–8 years prior. Methods Secondary data mediation analyses were conducted to determine if cognitive processing mediated the relationship between social constraints and depressive symptoms. Age-related differences on all scales were tested. Main Research Variables Depressive symptoms; secondary variables included social constraints, cognitive processing (avoidance and intrusive thoughts), and potentially confounding variables. Findings Cognitive processing mediated the relationship between social constraints and depressive symptoms for partners (F(5,498) = 19.911, R2=.167, p<.001). Partners of young BCS reported worse outcomes on all measures than partners of older breast cancer survivors Conclusions As predicted by the social cognitive processing theory, cognitive processing mediated the relationship between social constraints and depressive symptoms. Furthermore, partners of younger BCS fared worse on social constraints, intrusive thoughts and depressive symptoms than partners of older BCS. Implications for Nursing Results provide support for using the social cognitive processing theory in intervention design with partners of long-term BCS to decrease depressive symptoms.

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“…Does capitalizing on positive events uniquely help members of couples who are coping with significant adversity maintain daily relationship and individual well-being? For example, couples coping with a partner’s serious illness may experience a relative increase in negative daily life events, and medical illnesses can influence both the patient and the partner as a joint relational and emotional system (Belcher et al, 2011; Hagedoorn, Sanderman, Bolks, Tuinstra, & Coyne, 2008). …”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Capitalizing on everyday positive events uniquely predicts daily intimacy and well-being in couples coping with breast cancer.

Otto¹,

Laurenceau²,

Siegel³

et al. 2015

Journal of Family Psychology

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Capitalization is the relational process of savoring positive life events by sharing them with responsive relationship partners. The purpose of the present study was to use dyadic intensive longitudinal methods to examine novel hypotheses regarding links between capitalization processes and daily intimacy and well-being in women with breast cancer and their intimate partners. While couples coping with cancer often experience an increase in negative daily life events, we hypothesized that it would be important for them also to share and capitalize on positive events in addition to sharing negative events. Female patients with early-stage breast cancer and their intimate partners (99 couples) completed electronic daily diaries for 7 to 10 consecutive days tapping everyday processes of sharing negative and positive events with each other. Dyadic multilevel process modeling revealed that on days when capitalization attempts (i.e., sharing the best event of the day) occurred, daily feelings of intimacy in the sharer were higher for both patients and partners. Moreover, greater perceived partner responsiveness (PPR) to capitalization attempts was associated with increases in the sharer’s daily feelings of intimacy and decreases in the sharer’s daily negative affect. When the patient’s partner was the sharer, PPR was also associated with increased daily positive affect. Importantly, all effects of capitalization were observed above and beyond the effects of event positivity and sharing negative events (i.e., social support attempts). Findings suggest that, even in the midst of significant life adversity, sharing daily good news with intimate partners enhances relationship well-being independently of sharing bad news.

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Social constraints on disclosure predict daily well-being in couples coping with early-stage breast cancer.

Cited by 62 publications

References 32 publications

Cancer conversations in context: Naturalistic observation of couples coping with breast cancer.

Cancer conversations in context: Naturalistic observation of couples coping with breast cancer.

Relationship Between Depressive Symptoms and Social Cognitive Processing in Partners of Long-Term Breast Cancer Survivors

Capitalizing on everyday positive events uniquely predicts daily intimacy and well-being in couples coping with breast cancer.

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