Investigators have uncovered that the emotional and physical health of breast cancer survivors may be influenced by their relationship with their partners, according to a recent study published by Vachon et al in Healthcare.
Background
The diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer often place significant stress on survivors, their partners, and their relationships.
“We knew from the literature that breast cancer survivors’ rating of their relationship satisfaction is linked with some poor physical and emotional outcomes. We took that knowledge to the next level and combined the breast cancer survivors’ and partners’ views of relationship satisfaction and relationship agreement and determined impact on survivors’ health,” explained lead study author Eric Vachon, PhD, RN, Assistant Professor at the Indiana University School of Nursing, a research scientist at the Regenstrief Institute and a researcher at the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Study Methods and Results
In the recent study, the investigators asked breast cancer survivors who were an average of 6 years out from the time of their diagnosis (n = 220) and controls without a previous cancer diagnosis (n = 167) as well as their partners (n = 387) to complete questionnaires regarding their relationships. The ages of the study participants ranged from 45 to 48 years.
The investigators revealed that relationship satisfaction was linked to their physical functioning—such as their ability to carry groceries or walk around their neighborhood—attention functioning, sleep quality, depression, and fatigue. For instance, less relationship satisfaction and less agreement with their partner were both significantly associated with poor emotional and physical outcomes among breast cancer survivors.
However, not all breast cancer survivors or controls who indicated high relationship satisfaction were in agreement with their partners. Agreement with partners was not found to be associated with worse physical functioning, attention functioning, or sleep quality. After the perspective of the partner was factored in, there was less agreement on the quality and satisfaction of their relationship among survivors compared with controls.
Conclusions
“How the breast cancer survivor and partner communicated and handled stressful events—particularly those related to breast cancer—were linked to emotional and physical health for the survivor, with better agreement related to better outcomes. Interestingly, breast cancer survivors who rated their relationship satisfaction as high did not necessarily have better agreement with their partner or better well-being than those survivors who viewed their relationship less positively. It’s the communication and relationship between the survivor and partner that are determinant,” underscored Dr. Vachon. “The implication of this work for breast cancer survivors, their partners, clinicians, researchers, and others involved with cancer care is that it can be extremely impactful to make sure that both the survivor and the partner are on the same page and are in agreement,” he added.
“This work points to the critical importance of both members of the couple focusing on strengthening the relationship. Difficulties among couples can have devastating effects for [survivors’] physical and emotional health. For clinicians, making sure that based upon the preferences of the breast cancer survivor, partners are involved in discussions, treatment, and overall care is vital to the short-term and long-term health of patients,” the study authors concluded.
Disclosure: The research in this study was supported by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health and the American Cancer Society. For full disclosures of the study authors, visit mdpi.com.
