Relationship satisfaction in couples confronted with colorectal cancer: the interplay of past and current spousal support |
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Authors: | Mariët Hagedoorn Meirav Dagan Eli Puterman Christiaan Hoff W J H Jeroen Meijerink Anita DeLongis Robbert Sanderman |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Social Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands;(2) Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA;(3) Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada;(4) Department of Surgery, Medical Center Leeuwarden, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands;(5) Department of Gastro Intestinal Surgery, Free University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands;(6) Health Pyschology Section (FA 12), Department of Health Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 196, 9700 AD Groningen, The Netherlands |
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Abstract: | Based on attribution theory, this study hypthesized that past spousal supportiveness may act as a moderator of the link between
one partner’s current support behavior and the other partner’s relationship satisfaction. A sample of 88 patients with colorectal
cancer and their partners completed questionnaires approximately 3 and 9 months after diagnosis. The data were analyzed employing
dyadic data analytic approaches. In the short-term, spousal active engagement—which involved discussing feelings and engaging
in joint problem solving—was positively associated with relationship satisfaction in patients as well as in partners, but
only when past spousal support was relatively low. Spousal protective buffering—which involved hiding worries and fears and
avoiding talking about the disease—was negatively associated with relationship satisfaction in patients, again only when past
spousal support was relatively low. If past spousal support was high, participants rated the quality of their relationship
relatively high, regardless of their partner’s current support behavior. Over time, past spousal supportiveness was not found
to mitigate the negative association between spousal protective buffering and relationship satisfaction. Overall, our results
indicate that relationship satisfaction can be maintained if past spousal supportiveness is high even if the partner is currently
not very responsive to the individual’s needs, at least in the short-term. |
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