The Interplay Between Individual and Dyadic/Common Coping in Female Patients With Cancer

Abstract

Abstract. Both individual and dyadic coping behaviors are important for adaptation to a severe illness. However, there is a theoretical controversy regarding the interplay between these two forms of coping. In this cross-sectional study, we examined (a) whether recently diagnosed cancer patients engage mostly with one form of coping or whether they use both in parallel; (b) the relationship of individual and supportive dyadic/common coping to emotional well-being and relationship satisfaction. Participants were 92 women recently diagnosed with cancer (mostly breast cancer) and receiving medical treatment ( Mage = 49.37 years; SD = 10.52). All had been living with their partner for at least 2 years. The parallel use of individual and supportive dyadic/common coping behaviors was frequently reported. Individual and dyadic/common coping proved to be related to each other ( p < .01), and both were related to emotional well-being and relationship satisfaction ( p < .05). The combination of high individual and high supportive dyadic/common coping was associated with greater satisfaction with the relationship ( p < .01). Patients probably use individual and dyadic coping behaviors in concert to better deal with the different aspects of their illness experience. Both types of coping should be considered in the context of personalized intervention programs to facilitate adaptation to cancer.

Couples Coping With Hematological Cancer: Support Within and Outside the Couple – Findings From a Qualitative Analysis of Dyadic Interviews

“…A recent study supports the assumption that different coping strategies occur simultaneously and are used depending on availability ( Paschali et al, 2021 ). This is in line with Bodenmann’s supplement of his sequential stress-coping-cascade model, which suggests that in continuous and cumulative stress situations people draw on different support simultaneously ( Bodenmann, 1995 , 2005 ).…”

“…This is in line with Bodenmann’s supplement of his sequential stress-coping-cascade model, which suggests that in continuous and cumulative stress situations people draw on different support simultaneously ( Bodenmann, 1995 , 2005 ). Furthermore, as individual and dyadic coping strategies are highly associated with each other ( Papp and Witt, 2010 ; Paschali et al, 2021 ) it might be that combining specific forms of both strategies facilitate adaptation to cancer.…”

Different Coping Constructs in Haematological Cancer Patients: The Influence of Dyadic on Individual Coping Interplay of DC and IC in Haematological Cancer

“…In a study of 92 newly diagnosed female (predominantly breast) cancer patients, Paschali et al found that more active IC behaviors (such as problem-solving) were positively associated with supportive and common DC, whereas IC behaviors such as avoidance and rumination were negatively associated with supportive and common DC. Te study also examined correlations between potential infuencing factors with DC and IC, fnding no signifcant diferences in both coping constructs between the level of education, presence of children, relationship duration, and patient age [27]. Two other studies found that adaptive IC was positively related to positive and common DC and negatively related to negative DC, whereas maladaptive IC was negatively associated with common DC [35,36].…”

“…Two other studies found that adaptive IC was positively related to positive and common DC and negatively related to negative DC, whereas maladaptive IC was negatively associated with common DC [35,36]. According to Paschali et al, positive IC and common coping were associated with higher levels of emotional well-being, and according to Brandão et al, the infuence of IC on cancer-related well-being and quality of life is persistent, underlining the importance of both IC and DC for the well-being of cancer patients [27,37]. However, the cross-sectional design of these studies does not allow for drawing causal conclusions.…”

“…Regarding DC, problem-solving, emotion-regulation-oriented, and common coping were found to be positively associated with physical and mental health in cancer patients, whereas hostile DC was associated with poorer health (e.g., [9,10,25,26]). However, controversy exists regarding the interplay of these two coping constructs [27]. According to the latest model, the dyadic regulatory connectivity model (DR-CM), the use of IC and DC depends on the characteristics and the situation of the individuals involved [28].…”