FACTORS AFFECTING COUPLES ADJUSTMENT TO RECURRENT BREAST-CANCER

The purpose of this study was to identify factors that affect the adju stment of women, and their husbands to recurrent breast cancer and to examine the mutual effect that partners have on one another. An explor atory study was designed to determine the relationship between four pr edictor variables (support, uncertainty, symptom distress, hopelessnes s);and women's and husbands' adjustments. The sample consisted of 155 subjects; 81 women, who had a first recurrence of breast cancer, and 7 4 husbands. Multiple standardized instruments with established reliabi lity and validity were used to measure the study variables. The indepe ndent variables were measured with the Social Support Questionnaire, t he Mishel Uncertainty in Illness Scale, McCorkle Symptom Distress Scal e and the Beck Hopelessness Scale. The dependent variable, psychosocia l adjustment was measured with the Brief Symptom Inventory and the Psy chosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale, The results indicated that the independent variables accounted for 43% of the variance in women's dis tress and 32% of the variance in husbands' distress; they also explain ed 66% of the variance in women's role adjustment problems and 57% of the variance in husbands' role problems. Symptom distress and hopeless ness accounted for the most variance in women's and husbands' levels o f adjustment. A significant and positive relationship was found betwee n women's and husbands' adjustment scores, indicating that partners ha ve a mutual influence on one another. The findings suggest that there; are multiple factors that influence couples' adjustment to recurrent b reast cancer, and that these factors need to be taken into considerati on when planning care for women and their partners.