title: The closer 'We' are, the stronger 'I' am: the impact of couple identity on cancer coping self-efficacy.
abstract: The present study tested the supposition that greater levels of couple identity (or we-ness) increase a woman's coping self-efficacy in relation to breast cancer, which, in turn, predicts better psychosocial adjustment. Women (N = 112) in committed relationships completed surveys assessing their levels of couple identity, cancer coping self-efficacy, and aspects of their psychosocial adjustment (specifically, depression, anxiety and functional well-being) during one of their outpatient visits to the cancer centre. As predicted, the more women identified with their relationships, the lower their levels of depression and anxiety were and the greater their functional well-being was. This relationship was mediated by coping self-efficacy: greater identification with one's relationship predicted greater confidence in one's ability to cope, which, in turn, predicted better adjustment. The role intimate relationships play in women's adjustment to breast cancer, as well as directions for further research, are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, York University, 4700 Keele St., Toronto, ON, M3J 1P3, Canada. saunia@gmail.com.|Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, 2075 Bayview Ave, Toronto, ON, M4N 3M5, Canada. saunia@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Saunia
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1798-251X
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, York University, 4700 Keele St., Toronto, ON, M3J 1P3, Canada.|Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, 2075 Bayview Ave, Toronto, ON, M4N 3M5, Canada.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fergus
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, York University, 4700 Keele St., Toronto, ON, M3J 1P3, Canada.|Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, 2075 Bayview Ave, Toronto, ON, M4N 3M5, Canada.
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shatokhina
authors.affiliation: Kunin-Lunenfeld Centre for Applied and Evaluative Research Unit, Baycrest Health Sciences Centre, 3560 Bathurst Street, Toronto, ON, M6A 2E1, Canada.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gardner
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008875:Middle Aged; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Breast cancer; Coping; Couple; Couple identity; Marital; Self-efficacy; Social support