title: [Psychological adjustment in couples facing woman's breast cancer: perceptions of spousal support].
abstract: This cross-sectional study for couples explores the relationship between the perceptions within the couple of the spouse's supportive behaviors and the psychological adjustment of both partners during treatment for breast cancer. Forty-eight women operated on for a non-metastatic breast cancer and their spouses completed questionnaires assessing psychological adjustment (STAI, BDI-SF), and the spouse's support behaviors during discussions about the disease (PSE). Support behaviors are positively valued by both partners, especially non-verbal comfort and concrete actions. Support by minimization is associated with fewer depressive symptoms in patients and spouses. For spouses, the positive perception of support by concrete action is associated with a lower depression score. Moreover, high adjustment difficulties for spouses are linked to greater perception differences between partners on emotional support and minimization. These results highlight the importance of non-verbal comfort and minimization for the perception of social support within the couple, and the usefulness of support by concrete actions proposed by spouses. Advices for professionals are available.
authors.affiliation: Université Paris-Descartes, Institut de psychologie, 71, avenue Édouard-Vaillant, 92100 Boulogne-Billancourt, France.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stulz
authors.affiliation: Institut de cancérologie Gustave-Roussy, 114, rue Édouard-Vaillant, 94805 Villejuif cedex, France.
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Boinon
authors.affiliation: Institut de cancérologie Gustave-Roussy, 114, rue Édouard-Vaillant, 94805 Villejuif cedex, France.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dauchy
authors.affiliation: Institut de cancérologie Gustave-Roussy, 114, rue Édouard-Vaillant, 94805 Villejuif cedex, France.
authors.forename: Suzette
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Delaloge
authors.affiliation: Université Paris-Descartes, Institut de psychologie, 71, avenue Édouard-Vaillant, 92100 Boulogne-Billancourt, France.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brédart
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008875:Middle Aged; D009633:Nonverbal Communication / Q000523:psychology*; D010465:Perception; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology
keywords: breast cancer; couples; discrepancy; psychological adjustment; social support