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Collaborative coping and daily mood in couples dealing with prostate cancer
Cynthia A Berg1, Deborah J Wiebe, Jonathan Butner
1Department of Psychology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA. cynthia.berg@psych.utah.edu
Psychology and Aging
|September 24, 2008
Summary
Older couples who engage in collaborative coping experience better daily moods. This is because working together enhances their perceived effectiveness in managing stressful life events and illness.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Gerontology
- Health Psychology
Background:
- Collaborative coping, where spouses jointly problem-solve, may improve daily mood by increasing perceived coping efficacy.
- Older adults face unique stressors, including managing chronic illnesses like prostate cancer.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the daily associations between collaborative coping, perceived coping effectiveness, and mood in older couples.
- To investigate the mediating role of perceived coping effectiveness in the link between collaborative coping and mood.
- To explore factors associated with the frequency of collaborative coping in couples managing illness.
Main Methods:
- A 14-day daily diary study was conducted with 57 older couples.
- Participants reported on collaborative coping, perceived coping effectiveness, and mood (Positive and Negative Affect Scale).
- Hierarchical multivariate linear models were used to analyze the data.
Main Results:
- Collaborative coping was linked to more positive same-day mood for both husbands and wives.
- Collaborative coping was associated with less negative mood for wives.
- These effects were partially mediated by increased perceptions of coping effectiveness.
Conclusions:
- Collaborative coping benefits older couples' daily mood, particularly when dealing with illness-related stressors.
- Enhanced perceived coping effectiveness plays a key role in this mood improvement.
- Marital satisfaction and decision-making styles may influence the use of collaborative coping.
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