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Supportive Care in Cancer

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01-01-2014 | Original Article

Individual and dyadic development of personal growth in couples coping with cancer

Authors: Alfred Künzler, Fridtjof W. Nussbeck, Michael T. Moser, Guy Bodenmann, Karen Kayser

Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer | Issue 1/2014

Abstract

Rationale

Couples share distress as well as potential personal growth (PG) after a cancer diagnosis. It is essential for professionals to learn more about the ways couples cope together with adversity. Dyadic results may help to understand controversial results in the PG literature and inform clinicians in optimizing psychological support for couples.

Objective

We examine the temporal and dyadic development of PG among patients and their intimate partners. In addition, life threat is examined as a potential factor influencing PG after cancer diagnosis.

Methods

We assessed PG using the Personal Growth Inventory in a clinically representative, mixed-type and mixed-stage cancer cohort (N = 154 couples) 6 and 12 months after cancer diagnosis. Medical data on cancer diagnoses and treatments were collected from physicians. Actor–partner interdependence models were applied.

Results

PG was reported by patients and their partners. Women (either as patients or partners) reported more PG than male patients or partners. PG remained relatively stable over 6 months and was related to whether the patient was receiving curative or palliative treatment. Female patients experienced less PG 6 months after the cancer diagnosis and if treatment was curative. Male patients experienced less PG if their partners experienced PG, and the treatment was curative.

Conclusions

Dyadic growth is a phenomenon not limited to breast cancer or female patient couples and may represent a form of dyadic coping. Patients and partners seem to develop individual and dyadic growth, depending on a combination of gender and life threat. Psycho-oncology services may want to promote both couple level coping and support in order to optimize cancer care.

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Title: Individual and dyadic development of personal growth in couples coping with cancer
Authors: Alfred Künzler
Fridtjof W. Nussbeck
Michael T. Moser
Guy Bodenmann
Karen Kayser
Publication date: 01-01-2014
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer / Issue 1/2014
Print ISSN: 0941-4355
Electronic ISSN: 1433-7339
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-013-1949-6

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