Spouse support, coping, and mood among individuals with cancer

A model of the relations between spouse support, coping, and positive and n egative mood was examined with 221 individuals with cancer using LISREL ana lyses. A moderating effect for patient life expectancy was predicted for di sease prognosis. Results indicated that spouse criticism was associated wit h negative mood indirectly through avoidant coping strategies, and spouse s upport was associated with positive mood indirectly through positively-focu sed coping. Results did not support a moderating influence for life expecta ncy upon the association between spouse behaviors and patient coping. The r esults of this study are discussed in terms of their implications for psych osocial interventions to reduce psychological distress among individuals wi th cancel.