The Effects of Supportive and Nonsupportive Behaviors on the Quality of Life of Prostate Cancer Patients and Their Spouses

Abstract

Abstract : Research on prostate cancer has not, as yet, identified how patients' and their spouses' supportive (e.g., giving advice/emotional support) and non-supportive behaviors (e.g., criticizing/avoiding partner) affect and are affected by their: 1) feelings of illness uncertainty, 2) psychological well-being, and 3) quality of life (QOL). The major aims of this two a half year longitudinal questionnaire study are to address the following questions among 150 early stage prostrate cancer patients and their spouses at time of diagnosis and at one, six and twelve month post-initiation of treatment: 1) does illness uncertainty and perceptions of control predict patient and spouse supportive and non-supportive behavior, QOL and psychological well-being/distress? 2) does perceived inadequacy of partner support predict non-supportive behaviors? and 3) to what extent do supportive and non-supportive behaviors mediate the relationship between illness uncertainty and QOL and illness uncertainty and psychological well-being? We have successfully recruited 186 patients and 166 spouses/partners. One preliminary result suggests that patient perceived disease uncertainty at baseline is highly negatively correlated, with the exception of role limitations, with all dimensions of quality life at the one-month follow-up.