A STUDY OF STRESS AND COPING IN THE NEXT OF KIN OF CANCER-PATIENTS

International literature regarding the situation of partners of cancer patients and the results of empirical studies are critically reviewed . The front of this background is the retrospective study, and the res ults, of interviews with 30 partners of long-term surviving cancer pat ients. Qualified by half-structured interview and various questionnair es regarding the situation during and after the illness. This substudy is part of an overall study of the posttraumatic syndrom of long-term surviving cancer patients and their next of kin. To evaluate the hypo theses two groups were created, good and bad copers. On the basis of i nterviewer rating good and bad coping was operationalized. Results sho wed significant better coping skills in partners with sufficient socia l support, with no illness of their own and with more flexible defense mechanisms. The majority of the partners preferred to be better infor med and more involved by the physician. The results underline the impo rtance of the partner in psychooncology and emphasize the coping with cancer under the aspect of the long-term stress.