CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS AND ADJUSTMENT TO A LIFE CRISIS - THE CASE OF BREAST-CANCER

When life crises occur, significant others are thought to help allevia te distress and resolve practical problems. Yet life crises may overwh elm significant others, eroding their ability to provide effective sup port. The accuracy of these contrasting accounts of relationship funct ioning was evaluated in a study of 102 breast cancer patients and thei r significant others, interviewed at 4 and 10 months after diagnosis. Results largely confirmed the negative account of relationship functio ning. Although significant others provided support in response to pati ents' physical impairment, they withdrew support in response to patien ts' emotional distress. Moreover, support from significant others did not alleviate patients' distress or promote physical recovery. These r esults reveal limits to the effectiveness of close relationships in ti mes of severe stress.