1. Relationship communication and the course of psychological outcomes among couples coping with localised prostate cancer
- Author
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Manne, Sharon L, Kashy, Deborah, Myers‐Virtue, Shannon, Zaider, Talia, Kissane, David W, Heckman, Carolyn J, Kim, Isaac, Penedo, Frank, and Lee, David
- Subjects
Health Services and Systems ,Health Sciences ,Mental Health ,Prostate Cancer ,Clinical Research ,Behavioral and Social Science ,Mind and Body ,Urologic Diseases ,Cancer ,Good Health and Well Being ,Adaptation ,Psychological ,Communication ,Emotional Adjustment ,Humans ,Interpersonal Relations ,Male ,Prostatic Neoplasms ,Spouses ,cancer ,marital relationship ,prostate cancer ,relationship communication ,Nursing ,Oncology and Carcinogenesis ,Public Health and Health Services ,Oncology & Carcinogenesis ,Oncology and carcinogenesis - Abstract
ObjectiveHow couples communicate about cancer is an important predictor of psychological outcomes for men diagnosed with localised prostate cancer and their spouses. We examined the predictive role of disclosure, responsiveness, mutual avoidance, and holding back on depressive symptoms, psychological adjustment, cancer-specific distress, and cancer concerns.MethodsEighty-one prostate cancer patients and their spouses completed measures of communication at baseline and measures of four psychological outcomes at baseline, five, 12, and 26 weeks after baseline. Dyadic growth models tested the effects of time and role on each outcome over time.ResultsHigher disclosure and responsiveness predicted better psychological outcomes. Less mutual avoidance and holding back predicted poorer psychological outcomes. Across communication variables, individuals who engaged in poorer communication initially had poorer psychological outcomes that improved over time, whereas individuals who engaged in better communication initially maintained their more positive standing without change or changed in the positive direction. For all outcomes, those with better communication still had better psychological outcomes at six months.ConclusionCouples' cancer-specific relationship communication predicts their psychological outcomes. More research is needed to identify effective interventions, including a longer therapy course, individual communication training, or greater focus on addressing barriers to sharing and responsiveness.
- Published
- 2021