Paper
Saturday, July 24, 2004
Couple Interaction in Breast Cancer: Evaluating Marital Quality
Kathryn Hoehn Anderson, PhD, RN, LMFT, School of Nursing, Florida International University, North Miami, FL, USA and Dianna Moll, BSN, RN, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Eau Claire, WI, USA.
| Learning Objective #1: Understand couple interaction dynamics during breast cancer |
| Learning Objective #2: Explore how couple interaction about breast cancer can evaluate marital quality using the Oral History of Marriage form |
Background: Breast cancer is one of the most common malignancies among women in the United States. Couple relationship tension and the ongoing psychosocial morbidity of the spouse/partner during BrCA are found in both cross-sectional and longitudinal studies (Hilton, Crawford & Tarko, 2000; Lewis & Deal, 1995; & Northouse, 2001). To date, studies have examined the responses of both the patient and the spouse to the cancer, themes of the couple experience, and the impact on family life. Studies have not looked at the nature of the couple interaction. Northouse (2001) calls for further research to explore the reasons for varying effects of marital satisfaction on the woman and the husband’s adjustment during breast cancer. Sample: Twenty couples dealing with breast cancer were interviewed together (Lewis, 1996) about their experience with breast cancer. Design and Methods:A secondary analysis of the data examined couple interaction during discussion of the BrCA experience to determine couple interaction characteristics that constitute marital distress and marital satisfaction. The couple interaction was coded sequentially using W-H and H-W segments as the unit of analysis. Each unit was coded using the Oral History Coding Notes form (Buehlman, Gottman et. al., 1992), that identifies 6 characteristics important in marital relationships. Subscale descriptors were also coded and additional issues related to couple dynamics in illness were identified. Inter-rater reliability of the two raters evaluating the couple sequences was completed. Findings: This paper will report on the analysis of couple interaction as evaluated by this coding schema to explore marital quality and also describe couple interaction dynamics that indicate couple distress or marital satisfaction. Implications for research and practice based on the description of the characteristics of marital interaction and marital quality findings during breast cancer will be presented.
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Sigma Theta Tau International
July 22-24, 2004