title: Problem-solving skills and emotional distress in spouses of men with prostate cancer.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, CA 92120-4913, USA. malcarne@psychology.sdsu.edu
authors.forename: Vanessa L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Malcarne
authors.forename: Rajni
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Banthia
authors.forename: James W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Varni
authors.forename: Georgia Robins
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Sadler
authors.forename: Helen L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Greenbergs
authors.forename: Celine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Ko
mesh_terms: 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