Active Engagement, Protective Buffering, and Depressive Symptoms in Young-Midlife Couples Surviving Cancer: The Roles of Age and Sex.

Karen S Lyons,Jessica R Gorman,Brandon Hayes-Lattin,Brandon S Larkin,Grace Duncan

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.816626

Karen S Lyons, Jessica R Gorman + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.816626

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Abstract

ObjectiveCancer researchers have found midlife couples to have poorer outcomes compared to older couples due to the off-time nature of the illness for them. It is unknown if young couples (aged 18–39), who are under-represented in cancer studies and overlooked for supportive programs, are at further risk. This study explored the moderating roles of survivor age and sex on the associations between active engagement and protective buffering and depressive symptoms in couples surviving cancer.MethodsThe exploratory study comprised 49 couples (aged 27–58) 1–3 years post-diagnosis. Multilevel modeling was used to explore the moderating roles of survivor age and sex, controlling for interdependent data.ResultsApproximately, 37% of survivors and 27% of partners met clinical criteria for further assessment of depression, with 50% of couples having at least one member meeting the criteria. Survivors and their partners did not significantly differ on depressive symptoms, active engagement, or protective buffering. Male survivors reported significantly higher levels of active engagement by their partners than female survivors and female survivors reported significantly higher levels of protective buffering by their partners than male survivors. We found some evidence to suggest that survivor age and sex may play moderating roles between active engagement and protective buffering and depressive symptoms. Older partners and female survivors appeared to experience more positive effects from engaging in positive dyadic behaviors than younger partners and male survivors.ConclusionFindings not only confirm the important role of dyadic behaviors for couples surviving cancer together, but also the important roles of survivor age and sex may play in whether such behaviors are associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms. Future research that examines these complex associations over time and across the adult life span in diverse populations is needed.

Highlights

It is estimated that there will be over 22 million cancer survivors in the US by 2030 (American Cancer Society, 2021)
Recruitment flyers were posted in an oncology clinic at Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU)
There were no significant differences in survivor or partner depressive symptoms, active engagement, or protective buffering behaviors by age group

Summary

Introduction

It is estimated that there will be over 22 million cancer survivors in the US by 2030 (American Cancer Society, 2021). Partners typically face the strain of providing care and support, redistribution of roles, and household tasks, and the possibility of losing the survivor. Both survivor and partner worry about the impact of the experience on their relationship, children they may have, and the course of the family trajectory and family goals (Corney et al, 2016; Collaço et al, 2019; Gorman et al, 2020). Much less is known about young adult couples, who are often under-represented in studies and overlooked for supportive programs (Barnett et al, 2016; Smith et al, 2016; Hydeman et al, 2019; Gorman et al, 2020), despite incidence rates of cancer increasing in this age group (Howlader et al, 2019; Scott et al, 2020)

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