Patterns Of Coping In Survivors Of Breast Cancer And Their Partners

Download or read book Patterns of Coping in Survivors of Breast Cancer and Their Partners written by Jean M. O'Mahoney and published by . This book was released on 1997 with total page 304 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This study explored how the coping strategies of breast cancer survivors and their partners influences their satisfaction with their relationship one to twenty-six months following completion of active treatment for breast cancer. The results indicated that coping factors play an important role in the adjustment of the couple and are predictive of relationship functioning above and beyond demographic and illness characteristics. There were differences observed, however, between the patients and partners in which coping strategies were related to relationship satisfaction. The patients' use of self controlling coping and the partners' use of distancing were associated with lowered relationship satisfaction for the couple, whereas the partners' use of positive reappraisal was associated with higher levels of relationship satisfaction. These findings were explored as they related to gender differences in coping as well as the differential roles the patient and partner play in relation to the illness experience. The results of this study suggested that the coping process that occurs within the relationship is complex and interdependent, and that coping may serve unique interpersonal functions. Future directions for research are suggested to better understand the concept of relational coping and the reciprocal process of coping with illness that occurs in couples over time.