Quality of partner support moderates positive affect in patients with cancer

In the present study, we examined whether 4 support quality-related characteristics moderate the impact of received partner support on positive affect of patients with cancer. The support quality-related characteristics were patients' perception regarding the willingness of their partners to offer support, patients' perception that partner support is certain, patients' satisfaction with partner relationship, and overall patients' satisfaction with partner support.

Seventy-seven recently diagnosed patients with cancer were assessed at 2 time points, during chemotherapy treatment (baseline) and 7 months later (follow-up). Two types of received support were examined, emotional support and advice-guidance from partner. Multiple regression analyses were performed to determine the moderating effect of the quality-related variables on the relationship between received support at baseline and patient's positive affect at 7-month follow-up.

Results showed that all 4 quality-related characteristics had a moderating role (f² ranged between .06 and .16, P < .05). Emotional support predicted positive affect only when patients reported high partner willingness to offer support, considered the partner support certain, were satisfied with the partner relationship (a trend), and were satisfied with the received support. In contrast, when patients perceived their partners as unwilling to provide support and were dissatisfied with the relationship, support (both emotional and advice-guidance and advice-guidance, respectively) exhibited a negative impact on positive affect.

The findings suggest that only when the quality of support is high does social support have a positive impact on patients' positive affect.