Moser, Michael T.; Künzler, Alfred; Nussbeck, Fridtjof; Bargetzi, Mario; Znoj, Hansjörg (2013). Higher emotional distress in female partners of cancer patients: prevalence and patient-partner interdependencies in a 3-year cohort. Psycho-oncology, 22(12), pp. 2693-2701. Wiley-Blackwell 10.1002/pon.3331
Full text not available from this repository. (Request a copy)OBJECTIVE: Assessment and treatment of psychological distress in cancer patients was recognized as a major challenge. The role of spouses, caregivers, and significant others became of salient importance not only because of their supportive functions but also in respect to their own burden. The purpose of this study was to assess the amount of distress in a mixed sample of cancer patients and their partners and to explore the dyadic interdependence.
METHODS: An initial sample of 154 dyads was recruited, and distress questionnaires (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Symptom Checklist 9-Item Short Version and 12-Item Short Form Health Survey) were assessed over four time points. Linear mixed models and actor-partner interdependence models were applied.
RESULTS: A significant proportion of patients and their partners (up to 40%) reported high levels of anxiety, depression, psychological distress, and low quality of life over the course of the investigation. Mixed model analyses revealed that higher risks for clinical relevant anxiety and depression in couples exist for female patients and especially for female partners. Although psychological strain decreased over time, the risk for elevated distress in female partners remained. Modeling patient-partner interdependence over time stratified by patients' gender revealed specific effects: a moderate correlation between distress in patients and partners, and a transmission of distress from male patients to their female partners.
CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide empirical support for gender-specific transmission of distress in dyads coping with cancer. This should be considered as an important starting point for planning systemic psycho-oncological interventions and conceptualizing further research.
Item Type: |
Journal Article (Original Article) |
|---|---|
Division/Institute: |
04 Faculty of Medicine > Pre-clinic Human Medicine > Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM) 07 Faculty of Human Sciences > Institute of Psychology > Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy 07 Faculty of Human Sciences > Institute of Psychology |
UniBE Contributor: |
Künzler, Alfred, Znoj, Hans Jörg |
Subjects: |
600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health 300 Social sciences, sociology & anthropology > 360 Social problems & social services 100 Philosophy > 150 Psychology |
ISSN: |
1057-9249 |
Publisher: |
Wiley-Blackwell |
Language: |
English |
Submitter: |
Adriana Biaggi |
Date Deposited: |
12 May 2014 10:37 |
Last Modified: |
02 Mar 2023 23:24 |
Publisher DOI: |
10.1002/pon.3331 |
PubMed ID: |
23825026 |
Uncontrolled Keywords: |
APIM, cancer, couples, distress, oncology, transmission |
URI: |
https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/50807 |
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