The correlation between coping strategies, doctor-patient/spouse relationships and psychological distress among women cancer patients and their spouses

Ora Gilbar, Alla Zusman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Objectives: The objectives of the study were 1 to assess similarities and differences between women cancer patients and their spouses in terms of coping strategies, psychological distress and doctor-patient/spouse relationships; and 2 to investigate the impact of formal social support, namely the doctor-patient relationship and coping strategies, on patients' and spouses' psychological distress. Method: Fifty-seven women with cancer, and their spouses, completed questionnaires that measured distress (BSI), coping strategies (PF, EF) and doctor-patient relationships (Pat, Md). Results: Patient distress was greater than that of spouses. Patients used more strategies involving problem-focused coping than spouses. A positive relationship was found between patients and spouses in terms of psychological distress, paternalism and emotion-focused strategies. Emotion-focused strategies were found to impact patient psychological distress, as indicated in a hierarchical regression model. Conclusion: The paternalism relationship model is an important factor in patient psychological distress but not in spousal psychological distress.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1010-1018
Number of pages9
JournalPsycho-Oncology
Volume16
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2007

Keywords

  • Cancer
  • Coping strategies
  • Doctor-patient/spouse relationships
  • Oncology
  • Psychological distress

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
  • Oncology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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