title: Couple functioning after pediatric cancer diagnosis: a systematic review.
abstract: A systematic review was conducted to (1) investigate couple functioning after a pediatric cancer diagnosis and (2) examine theoretical and methodological tendencies and issues in this literature.
  
  
  
  Searches of Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane, PsycINFO, and Embase resulted in inclusion of 32 qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-method papers. Findings of these papers were extracted for summary.
  
  
  
  Most couples adapt well to the crisis of a pediatric cancer diagnosis in domains such as emotional closeness, support, marital satisfaction, and general marital adjustment. However, most experience difficulties in the domain of sexual intimacy, and reports on conflict are mixed across qualitative and quantitative studies.
  
  
  
  This review illustrates the need for future research with a greater focus on the impact of a pediatric cancer diagnosis on the couple's functioning, conducted with the use of appropriate theoretical frameworks and based on both partners' reports. Improvements in research are needed to best inform couple-based interventions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Marieke
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Van Schoors
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology and Centre for Pain Research, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: Line
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Caes
authors.affiliation: Center for Healthcare Delivery Science, Nemours Children's Health System, Wilmington, Delaware.|Department of Pediatrics, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Melissa A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Alderfer
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Liesbet
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Goubert
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Lesley
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Verhofstadt
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D002648:Child; D005191:Family Characteristics; D006801:Humans; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: couples; intimate relationships; oncology; parents; pediatric cancer; systematic review