Predictors of spouses' provided support for patients receiving laparoscopic radical prostatectomy peri-surgery

Close relationships are usually the most important source of social support. But even in close relationships, symptoms of distress in one or both partners may undermine support processes. Seventy-seven patients receiving laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (44-73 years) and their spouses (38-72 years) provided data 1 day prior to surgery as well as 2 days and 2 weeks post-surgery. Our assumption that the commonly found support-eroding potential of receivers' depressive symptoms would not be evident during early stages of an acute crisis situation, such as major tumor surgery, tended to be supported by the data. However, depressive symptoms and degree of patient-reported post-operative pain were associated with a delayed decrease in spousal instrumental support provision 2 weeks after surgery. Spousal depression was largely unrelated to the provision of support. The present findings hint at the limits of a loved-one's capacity to assist in times of need.