title: Couple distress after localised prostate cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The experience of the diagnosis of prostate cancer is distressing for both men and their partners. The present study describes the prevalence of psychological distress in men with prostate cancer and their partners, and the predictors of adjustment outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey of 189 prostate cancer patients who were scheduled for or had undergone surgery for localised prostate cancer and their partners assessed socio-demographic variables, masculine self-esteem and social intimacy, psychological adjustment and quality of life.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, patients and partners reported low distress; however, female partners were more anxious with 36 % reporting mild to severe anxiety. For men, masculine self-esteem and time since diagnosis were most strongly related to mental health status; urinary bother most influenced physical quality of life. For female partners, the man's psychological distress and his sexual bother were most strongly related to her mental health status; higher social intimacy was most strongly associated with physical quality of life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The correlates of distress after the diagnosis of prostate cancer differ between patients and female partners. For men, masculine self-esteem may be most crucial, whereas for women, her partner's level of distress may matter most. Research to better understand these interactions is needed.
authors.affiliation: Griffith Health Institute, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia, suzanne.chambers@griffith.edu.au.
authors.forename: Suzanne K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Chambers
authors.forename: Leslie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schover
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Halford
authors.forename: Samantha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Clutton
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Gardiner
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dunn
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Occhipinti
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*