Problem-solving skills and emotional distress in spouses of men with prostate cancer.
BACKGROUND
Prostate cancer, the most common cancer in American men, may increase the risk of emotional distress in patients and their spouses. Problem-solving skills may be related to the emotional distress of the spouses.


METHODS
Thirty-two spouses of prostate cancer patients completed measures of problem-solving skills and emotional distress.


RESULTS
Proactive problem-solving skills were related to less emotional distress in spouses. Subtypes of problem-solving skills were differentially related to emotional distress.


CONCLUSIONS
Enhancement of problem-solving skills may contribute to improved health-related quality of life of spouses of prostate cancer patients.
Malcarne
Vanessa L
VL
Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, CA 92120-4913, USA. malcarne@psychology.sdsu.edu
Banthia
Rajni
R
Varni
James W
JW
Sadler
Georgia Robins
GR
Greenbergs
Helen L
HL
Ko
Celine M
CM
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011336:Probability; D011340:Problem Solving; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological