Fabienne Meier1, Sarah Cairo Notari2, Guy Bodenmann1, Tracey A Revenson3, Nicolas Favez2. 1. Clinical Psychology for Children/Adolescents and Couples/Families, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. 2. Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland. 3. Department of Psychology, Hunter College and the Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, NY, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Breast cancer (BC) can be understood as a we-disease, which affects a couple as a unit and requires coping as a unit (eg, common dyadic coping, CDC). However, partners can be incongruent in their perceptions of CDC, for example, because of misunderstandings and lack of mutuality or conflict, which may likely be associated with greater distress. Thus, this paper examines the effect of CDC congruence on individual psychological distress in cancer patients and their partners. METHODS: Seventy mixed-sex couples in which the woman had nonmetastatic BC completed self-report questionnaires at 2 weeks, 3 months, and 1 year after cancer surgery. CDC congruence measured the difference between patients' and partners' CDC perceptions while controlling for CDC itself. RESULTS: Multilevel modeling showed negative associations between couples' CDC and psychological distress. Beyond this effect, female patients' psychological distress was associated with CDC congruence with an interaction showing that psychological distress was greater when couples were congruent with low rather than a high CDC. CONCLUSION: Less congruence was associated with greater psychological distress in BC patients but not their male partners - especially if the couple reported low CDC. Health professionals should identify and address diverging perceptions, so that additional distress can be minimized for BC patients.
OBJECTIVES:Breast cancer (BC) can be understood as a we-disease, which affects a couple as a unit and requires coping as a unit (eg, common dyadic coping, CDC). However, partners can be incongruent in their perceptions of CDC, for example, because of misunderstandings and lack of mutuality or conflict, which may likely be associated with greater distress. Thus, this paper examines the effect of CDC congruence on individual psychological distress in cancerpatients and their partners. METHODS: Seventy mixed-sex couples in which the woman had nonmetastatic BC completed self-report questionnaires at 2 weeks, 3 months, and 1 year after cancer surgery. CDC congruence measured the difference between patients' and partners' CDC perceptions while controlling for CDC itself. RESULTS: Multilevel modeling showed negative associations between couples' CDC and psychological distress. Beyond this effect, female patients' psychological distress was associated with CDC congruence with an interaction showing that psychological distress was greater when couples were congruent with low rather than a high CDC. CONCLUSION: Less congruence was associated with greater psychological distress in BCpatients but not their male partners - especially if the couple reported low CDC. Health professionals should identify and address diverging perceptions, so that additional distress can be minimized for BCpatients.
Authors: Janneke van Roij; Natasja Raijmakers; Jeroen Kloover; Evelien Kuip; Tineke Smilde; Lilly-Ann van der Velden; Gary Rodin; Lonneke van de Poll-Franse Journal: Psychooncology Date: 2022-05-23 Impact factor: 3.955