Marital satisfaction in patients with cancer: Does support from intimate partners benefit those who need it the most?

This cross-sectional study assessed 3 ways of providing spousal support. Ac tive engagement means involving the patient in discussions and using constr uctive problem-solving methods; protective buffering means hiding one's con cerns; and overprotection refers to underestimation of the patient's capabi lities, resulting in unnecessary help and excessive praise for accomplishme nts. Ratings of received spousal support by 68 patients with cancer reveale d findings similar to those of partners' ratings of provided support. The p ositive association between active engagement and the patient's marital sat isfaction was stronger for patients with a rather poor psychological and ph ysical condition than for those with a rather good condition. Furthermore, protective buffering and overprotection were negatively associated with mar ital satisfaction only when patients experienced relatively high levels of psychological distress or physical limitations.