GENERAL AND ILLNESS-SPECIFIC ADJUSTMENT TO CANCER - RELATIONSHIP TO MARITAL-STATUS AND MARITAL QUALITY

This study examined the relationship between psychological adjustment of adults with cancer and two marital variables: married versus unmarr ied and high versus low marital quality. Eighty-six married and 46 unm arried adults with cancer completed general and illness-specific measu res of psychological adjustment. In general, men and subjects with low marital quality reported more depression and anxiety, a less positive health care orientation, and more illness-induced family difficulties than did women and subjects with high marital quality; unmarried subj ects reported more dysphoric thoughts and feelings related to the thei r illness than did married subjects; and unmarried men reported more d isruption in work activities and extended family relationships than di d unmarried females or married subjects. Moreover, a greater percentag e of unmarried subjects and subjects with low marital quality reported clinically elevated levels of symptomatology compared to those with h igh marital quality. The clinical implications of these findings are d iscussed.