Perceived Partner Reactions to Diagnosis and Treatment of Breast Cancer: Impact on Psychosocial and Psychosexual Adjustment

• Published in: Journal of consulting and clinical psychology 2005-04, Vol.73 (2), p.300-311
• Main Authors: Wimberly, Sarah R, Carver, Charles S, Laurenceau, Jean-Philippe, Harris, Suzanne D, Antoni, Michael H
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adjustment; Adjustment (to Environment); Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Breast cancer; Breast Neoplasms; Breast Neoplasms - diagnosis; Breast Neoplasms - drug therapy; Cancer; Clinical Diagnosis; Clinical psychology; Couple and family; Diagnosis; Distress; Emotional Adjustment; Emotional Response; Emotional responses; Female; Females; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Human; Humans; Longitudinal studies; Mammary gland diseases; Marital Satisfaction; Medical sciences; Medical treatment; Middle Aged; Partners; Patients; Perceptions; Personal relationships; Personal Satisfaction; Prospective Studies; Psychological Patterns; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Psychosexual Behavior; Psychosexual functioning; Psychosocial adjustment; Risk factors; Sexual Behavior - psychology; Sexual behaviour; Sexual Partners - psychology; Sexuality; Social Adjustment; Social Desirability; Social psychology; Spouses; Surgery; Survivors; Treatment; Tumors; USA; Well Being
• ISSN: 0022-006X; 1939-2117
• DOI: 10.1037/0022-006X.73.2.300

Two studies examined breast cancer patients' perceptions of their partners' reactions to their diagnosis and treatment as influences on 3 aspects of patients' well-being: psychosexual adjustment, emotional distress, and marital satisfaction. Study 1, cross-sectional, indicated that partner initiation of sex, frequency of sex, a positive 1st sexual experience after treatment, and especially perception of the partner's emotional involvement in the relationship, were relevant to these outcomes. Study 2, longitudinal, confirmed many of these findings in prospective tests across 1 year of recovery after surgery. Partner involvement prospectively predicted all 3 outcomes. Partner initiation of sex predicted greater marital satisfaction; partner adverse reaction to the scar predicted less marital satisfaction. Rated quality of the 1st sexual experience after treatment predicted less distress. The pattern suggests that women's impressions of their partners' emotional involvement after surgery for breast cancer forecast their adjustment in sexual, marital, and emotional arenas over the following year.