Disease-related communication difficulties and dyadic coping among patients with breast cancer and their spouses: An...

To examine the association between disease communication problems and dyadic coping in patients with breast cancer and their spouses.

Dyadic coping and disease communication problems were assessed using the General Data Questionnaire, Chinese version of the Dyadic Coping Inventory, and the Cancer-Related Communication Problems within Couples Scale. Actor-partner interaction between dyadic coping and disease communication problems was modeled.

The mean disease communication problems scores were 7.08 ± 2.86 for patients and 7.07 ± 2.87 for spouses. Significant differences were observed between patients and spouses in the emotional support, treatment-specific issues, and protective buffering dimensions of disease communication problems (P < 0.05). The mean dyadic coping scores were 118.67 ± 13.16 for patients and 117.82 ± 12.86 for spouses. Patients reported significantly higher negative coping scores than their spouses (P < 0.01). Disease communication problems in patients and spouses were significantly negatively correlated with self- and partner-dyadic coping scores (r = -0.360 to -0.433, P < 0.01). Disease communication problems of patients and spouses were negatively affected by self and partner positive dyadic coping, while positively influencing negative dyadic coping.

Dyadic coping levels in couples are interactively influenced by their own communication problems and their partner's communication problems. A couple-centered disease communication strategy should be established to improve psychological and social adaptation among spouses. Such an approach may strengthen collaborative coping, deepen relational intimacy, enhance support efficacy, and provide a stronger psychosocial foundation for disease management.