title: Social-cognitive processes as moderators of a couple-focused group intervention for women with early stage breast cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose was to examine whether social-cognitive variables would moderate the efficacy of a couple-focused group intervention (CG) for women diagnosed with early stage breast cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants (N = 238) were randomly assigned to 6 sessions of a couple-focused group versus usual care. Intent to treat growth curve modeling analyses indicated that emotional expression and emotional processing moderated CG effects on depression.
  
  
  METHODS
  The primary outcome measures for this study were psychological distress and psychological well-being.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment attrition analyses separating out participants assigned to but not attending CG indicated that emotional expression, emotional processing, and protective buffering moderated the effects of CG among those who attended CG with the most consistent effects noted for emotional processing on indicators of distress and well-being.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The CG intervention may be more effective for patients who begin the group experience using emotional approach coping strategies to deal with cancer.
authors.affiliation: Population Science Division, Fox Chase Cancer Center, 333 Cottman Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA. sharon.manne@fccc.edu
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Manne
authors.forename: Jamie S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Ostroff
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Winkel
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D019546:Couples Therapy; D003863:Depression / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D012944:Social Support; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology