Dyadic Coping of Patients with Haemato-Oncological Diseases and their Partners: Discrepancy Indexes and Association with Social Support and Psychological Distress

Abstract

Cancer is often associated with negative psychosocial consequences not only for patients but also for their partners. These consequences are also influenced by the applied coping strategies. The study examines the influence of Dyadic Coping (DC) on social support and psychological distress (symptoms of depression and anxiety) in haemato-oncological patients and their partners. Of particular interest is the significance of dyadic accordance (conformity) of the assessment of DC ("discrepancy indexes"). The study investigates 330 couples (haemato-oncological patients and their partners, average age patient 57.0 years, 63.3 percent male, 25.8 percent acute leukemia). In addition to Dyadic Coping Inventory (DCI), standardized instruments are used. Research data is being analyzed with t-tests, partial correlation and regression. Patients and partners use similar dyadic coping strategies, whereby partners assess coping behaviors of patients more accurately than vice versa. Regarding social support, the DC total score plays a more decisive role than discrepancy indexes, in particular with patients (R2=20.4%). Conversely, discrepancy indexes explain a large part of the patients' variance (R2=10.2%); regarding psychological stress, the DC total score shows no effects in this model. The results demonstrate the relevance of the DC discrepancy indexes as a measure for interpersonal accordance for psychosocial outcomes, especially for psychological distress. Further application-related research is necessary to generate reliable statements about these associations.