Family functioning and psychological distress among Japanese breast cancer patients and families.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to develop a typology of family functioning in the families of breast cancer patients.


METHODS
Seventy-four families (189 individuals: 74 patients, 54 spouses, 46 offspring, and 15 other relatives) completed self-report questionnaires. Perception of family functioning was assessed using the family relationship index (FRI) and its three dimensions (cohesiveness, expressiveness, and conflict) and was classified into groups by a cluster analytic approach. Psychological distress was assessed using the Zung self-rating depression scale (SDS) and the Zung self-rating anxiety scale (SAS).


RESULTS
Cluster analysis yielded three groups of patients and their family members: one cluster with high cohesiveness, high expressiveness, and low conflict ("supportive" type: n=64); a second group with low cohesiveness, low expressiveness, and high conflict ("conflictive" type: n=65); and a third group with limited cohesiveness, limited expressiveness, and low conflict ("intermediate" type: n=60). Analysis of variance revealed that conflictive families manifested the highest level of depression and anxiety among these clusters.


CONCLUSIONS
Typology of family functioning can identify psychologically at-risk families. A family-focused approach can help to reduce psychological distress, especially in conflictive families.
Ozono
Shuichi
S
Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Division of Frontier Medical Science, Programs for Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan.
Saeki
Toshinari
T
Inoue
Shinichi
S
Mantani
Tomoyuki
T
Okamura
Hitoshi
H
Yamawaki
Shigeto
S
D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012650:Self Disclosure; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires