The initiation of couple relationship discussions among young women with breast cancer

Abstract

Literature has shown that the quality of the couple relationship plays an integral role in a woman’s adjustment to diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. Decreased emotional support and demand/withdraw communication is associated with lower dyadic satisfaction and higher psychological distress. However, less is known specifically about how couple communication patterns affect young women, who face different life cycle stressors than older women. This study examined the association between initiator tendency and dyadic satisfaction, medical, and demographic variables. Results indicate that patient initiation was negatively associated with pain with sexual intercourse. Perceived partner initiation was positively correlated with patient quality of life and negatively correlated with patient age and full time work. Both patient and perceived partner initiation were associated with higher dyadic satisfaction.