Top

Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings

Published in:

01-03-2019

Impact of Cancer on Romantic Relationships Among Young Adults: A Systematic Review

Author: Carolyn Rabin

Published in: Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings | Issue 1/2019

Abstract

The aim of this review was to determine the impact of a cancer diagnosis and history on young adults’ ability to initiate and maintain romantic relationships. MedLine and PsycInfo databases were used to identify articles that address dating, romantic relationships, or marriage among 18- to 45-year-old cancer survivors. Twenty-one relevant articles were identified. Findings indicate that young adult cancer survivors struggle with when/how to disclose their cancer history to potential partners, are delayed in initiating their first romantic relationships, have fewer romantic relationships than peers, and are less likely than peers to marry. Young survivors report that their cancer experience impacts their long-term relationships in both positive and negative ways. In summary, young survivors face significant barriers to establishing and maintaining romantic relationships. Those who have difficulty establishing romantic relationships may benefit from receiving additional support from other sources, including family members, friends, and (in some cases) mental health professionals.

Barnett, M. E., Shuk, E. M., Conway, F. P., & Ford, J. S. (2014). Cancer-related disclosure among adolescent and young adult cancer survivors: A qualitative study. Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology, 3, 123–129.CrossRefPubMedCentralPubMed

Bellizzi, K. M., Smith, A., Schmidt, S., Keegan, T. H. M., Zebrack, B., Lynch, C. F., … Simon, M. (2012). Positive and negative psychosocial impact of being diagnosed with cancer as an adolescent or young adult. Cancer, 118, 5155–5162.CrossRefPubMed

Borstelmann, N. A., Rosenberg, S. M., Ruddy, K. J., Tamimi, R. M., Gelber, S., Schapira, L., … Partridge, A. H. (2015). Partner support and anxiety in young women with breast cancer. Psycho-Oncology, 24, 1679–1685.CrossRefPubMed

Brandao, T., Schulz, M. S., & Mena Matos, P. (2014). Psychological intervention with couples coping with break cancer: A systematic review. Psychology & Health, 29, 491–516.CrossRef

Carpentier, M. Y., Fortenberry, J. D., Ott, M. A., Brames, M. J., & Einhorn, L. H. (2011). Perceptions of masculinity and self-image in adolescent and young adult testicular cancer survivors: Implications for romantic and sexual relationships. Psycho-Oncology, 20, 738–745.CrossRefPubMed

Dama, E., Maule, M. M., Mosso, M. L., Alessi, D., Ghisleni, M., Pivetta, E., … Merletti, F. (2009). Life after childhood cancer: Marriage and offspring in adult long-term survivors-a population-based study in the Piedmont region, Italy. European Journal of Cancer Prevention, 18, 25–430.CrossRef

Dieluweit, U., Debatin, K., Grabow, D., Kaatsch, P., Peter, R., Seitz, D. C. M., & Goldbeck, L. (2010). Social outcomes of long-term survivors of adolescent cancer. Psycho-Oncology, 9, 1277–1284.CrossRef

Frobisher, C., Lancashire, E. R., Winter, D. L., Jenkinson, H. C., Hawkins, M. M. & British Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (2007). Long-term population-based marriage rates among adult survivors of childhood cancer in Britain. International Journal of Cancer, 121, 846–855.CrossRefPubMed

Gerhardt, C. A., Vannatta, K., Valerius, K. S., Correll, J., & Noll, R. B. (2007). Social and romantic outcomes in emerging adulthood among survivors of childhood cancer. Journal of Adolescent Health, 40, 462e9–462e15.CrossRef

Geue, K., Schmidt, R., Sender, A., Sauter, S., & Friedrich, M. (2015). Sexuality and romantic relationships in young adult cancer survivors: Satisfaction and supportive care needs. Psycho-Oncology, 24, 1368–1376.CrossRefPubMed

Ginter, A. C., & Braun, B. (2014). Female breast cancer patients’ need for social support: Implications for patients without partners and health care professionals. Journal of Women’s Health, Issues & Care, 3, 1–9.

Green, D. M., Zevon, M. A., & Hall, B. (1991). Achievement of life goals by adult survivors of modern treatment for childhood cancer. Cancer, 67, 206–213.CrossRefPubMed

Gunnes, M. W., Lie, R. T., Bjorge, T., Ghaderi, S., Ruud, E., Syse, A., & Moster, D. (2016). Reproduction and marriage among male survivors of cancer in childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood: A national cohort study. British Journal of Cancer, 2016, 1–9.

Ishida, Y., Honda, M., Kamibeppu, K., Ozono, S., Okamura, J., Asami, K., … Kakee, N. (2011). Social outcomes and quality of life of childhood cancer survivors in Japan: A cross-sectional study on marriage, education, employment and health-related QOL (SF-36). International Journal of Hematology, 93, 633–644.CrossRefPubMed

Janson, C., Leisenring, W., Cox, C., Termuhlen, A. M., Mertens, A. C., Whitton, J. A., … Kadan-Lottick, N. S. (2009). Predictors of marriage and divorce in adult survivors of childhood cancers: A report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention, 18, 2626–2635.CrossRef

Johannsdottir, I. M. R., Hjermstad, M. J., Moum, T., Wesenberg, F., Hjorth, L., Schroder, H., & Loge, J. H. (2010). Social outcomes in young adult survivors of low incidence childhood cancers. Journal of Cancer Survivorship, 4, 110–118.CrossRefPubMed

Kinsinger, S. W., Laurenceau, J. P., Carver, C. S., & Antoni, M. H. (2011). Perceived partner support and psychosexual adjustment to breast cancer. Psychology and Health, 26, 1571–1588.CrossRefPubMed

Kirchhoff, A. C., Yi, J., Wright, J., Warner, E. L., & Smith, K. R. (2012). Marriage and divorce among young adult cancer survivors. Journal of Cancer Survivorship, 6, 441–450.CrossRefPubMedCentralPubMed

Koch, S. V., Tranberg, A. M., Engholm, G., Moller, H., Johansen, C., & Schmiegelow, K. (2011). Marriage and divorce among childhood cancer survivors. Journal of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, 33, 500–505.CrossRef

Kornblith, A. B., Powell, M., Regan, M. M., Bennett, S., Krasner, C., Moy, B., … Winer, E. (2007). Long-term psychosocial adjustment of older vs. younger survivors of breast and endometrial cancer. Psycho-Oncology, 16, 895–903.CrossRefPubMed

Kroenke, C. H., Rosner, B., Chen, W. Y., Kawachi, I., Colditz, G. A., & Holmes, M. D. (2004). Functional impact of breast cancer by age at diagnosis. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 22, 1849–1856.CrossRefPubMed

Lewis, P. E., Sheng, M., Rhodes, M. M., Jackson, K. E., & Schover, L. R. (2012). Psychosocial concerns of young African American breast cancer survivors. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, 30, 168–184.CrossRefPubMedCentralPubMed

Mackie, E., Hill, J., Kondryn, H., & McNally, R. (2000). Adult psychosocial outcomes in long-term survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and Wilms’ tumour: A controlled study. Lancet, 355, 1310–1314.CrossRefPubMed

Manne, S. L., Kissane, D., Zaider, T., Kashy, D., Lee, D., Heckman, C., & Virtue, S. M. (2015). Holding back, intimacy, and psychological and relationship outcomes among couples coping with prostate cancer. Journal of Family Psychology, 29, 708–719.CrossRefPubMedCentralPubMed

Rabin, C., Rogers, M. L., Pinto, B. M., Nash, J. M., Frierson, G. M., & Trask, P. C. (2007). Effect of personal cancer history and family cancer history on levels of distress. Social Science & Medicine, 64, 411–416.CrossRef

Reuben, S. H. (2004). Living beyond cancer: Finding a new balance. President’s Cancer Panel 2003–2004 Annual Report. Bethesda, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute.

Richter, D., Koehler, M., Friedrich, M., Hilgendorf, I., Mehnert, A. & Weißflog, G. (2015). Psychosocial interventions for adolescents and young adult cancer patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology, 95, 370–386.CrossRefPubMed

Rini, C., Redd, W. H., Austin, J., Mosher, C. E., Meschian, Y. M., Isola, L., & Rowley, S. (2011). Effectiveness of partner social support predicts enduring psychological distress after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 79, 64–74.CrossRefPubMedCentralPubMed

Robinson, L., Miedema, B., & Easley, J. K. E. (2014). Young adult cancer survivors and the challenges of intimacy. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, 32, 447–452.CrossRefPubMed

Russell, A. M., Galvin, K. M., Harper, M. M., & Clayman, M. L. (2016). A comparison of heterosexual and LGBTQ cancer survivors’ outlooks on relationships, family building, possible infertility, and patient-doctor fertility risk communication. Journal of Cancer Survivorship, 10, 935–942.CrossRef

Syse, A., Tretti, S., & Kravdal, O. (2008). Cancer’s impact on employment and earnings—a population-based study from Norway. Journal of Cancer Survivorship, 2, 149–158.CrossRefPubMed

Thompson, A. L., Long, K. A., & Marsland, A. L. (2013). Impact of childhood cancer on emerging adult survivors’ romantic relationships: A qualitative account. Journal of Sexual Medicine, 10, 65–73.CrossRefPubMed

Thompson, A. L., Marsland, A. L., Marshal, M. P., & Tersak, J. M. (2009). Romantic relationships of emerging adult survivors of childhood cancer. Psycho-Oncology, 18, 767–774.CrossRefPubMed

Wengenroth, L., Rueegg, C. S., Michel, G., Essig, S., Ammann, R. A., Bergstraesser, E., & Kuehni, C. E. (2014) Life partnerships in childhood cancer survivors, their siblings, and the general population. Pediatric Blood Cancers, 61, 538–545.CrossRef

Yi, J., Kim, M. A., & Sang, J. (2016). Worries of childhood cancer survivors in young adulthood. European Journal of Oncology Nursing, 21, 113–119.CrossRefPubMed

Title: Impact of Cancer on Romantic Relationships Among Young Adults: A Systematic Review
Author: Carolyn Rabin
Publication date: 01-03-2019
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings / Issue 1/2019
Print ISSN: 1068-9583
Electronic ISSN: 1573-3572
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10880-018-9566-7

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Impact of Cancer on Romantic Relationships Among Young Adults: A Systematic Review

Abstract

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 1/2019

The Effect of Cognitive–Emotional Training on Post-traumatic Growth in Women with Breast Cancer in Middle East

You Can’t Take Your Baby Home Yet: A Longitudinal Study of Psychological Symptoms in Mothers of Infants Hospitalized in the NICU

Technology-Focused Family Interventions in Pediatric Chronic Illness: A Systematic Review

Factorial Validity of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) in Clinical Samples: A Critical Examination of the Literature and a Psychometric Study in Anorexia Nervosa

Development and Validation of the Pediatric Diabetes Routines Questionnaire for Adolescents

Poor Self-efficacy for Healthcare Provider Interactions Among Individuals with HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorders