United We Stand? The Effects of a Couple-Coping Intervention on Adjustment to Early Stage Breast or Gynecological Cancer

• Published in: Journal of consulting and clinical psychology Vol. 72; no. 6; pp. 1122 - 1135
• Main Authors: Scott, Jennifer L, Halford, W. Kim, Ward, Bruce G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Psychological Association 01-12-2004
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological; Adjustment; Biological and medical sciences; Body Image; Breast cancer; Breast Neoplasms; Breast Neoplasms - psychology; Cancer; Clinical psychology; Cooperative Behavior; Coping; Coping Behavior; Coping strategies; Counseling; Counseling Effectiveness; Couples; Couples Therapy - methods; Distress; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genital Neoplasms, Female - psychology; Gynaecological cancer; Human; Humans; Husbands; Illness and personality; Illness, stress and coping; Intervention; Male; Married persons; Married women; Medical diagnosis; Mental health; Mental illness; Middle Aged; Mutual support; Neoplasms; Outcomes of Treatment; Patients; Psychological Patterns; Psychological wellbeing; Psychology; Psychology and medicine; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Psychosexual Behavior; Sexuality; Social Adjustment; Social psychology; Social Support; Spouses; Surgery; Human; Marital relation; Mammary gland diseases; Social interaction; Sexuality; Female; Coping; Malignant tumor; Stress; Social support
• ISSN: 0022-006X; 1939-2117
• DOI: 10.1037/0022-006X.72.6.1122

Cancer diagnosis affects the psychological well-being of both patients and their partners, and effective coping has been suggested to be a conjoint process of mutual support. Ninety-four married women with early stage cancer and their partners were randomly assigned to couples-based coping training (CanCOPE), individual coping training for the woman, or a medical education control. Couples' observed support communication and self-reported psychological distress, coping effort, and sexual adjustment were assessed at diagnosis, after cancer surgery, and at 6- and 12-month follow-ups. CanCOPE produced significant improvements in couples' supportive communication, reduced psychological distress and coping effort, and improved sexual adjustment. Training in couples rather than individual coping was more effective in facilitating adaptation to cancer.