Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Supportive and Negative Responses in the Partner Relationship: Their Association with Psychological Adjustment Among Individuals with Cancer

  • Published:
Journal of Behavioral Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study examined the association between positive and negative aspects of spouse responses and psychological adjustment among 15S individuals with cancer. Two contextual variables, gender and disease-related functional impairment, were taken into account when examining the association between spouse responses and patient psychological distress and well-being. Results indicated that negative aspects of close relationships played a comparatively stronger role than positive aspects in their associations with both psychological distress and well-being. For negative spouse responses, patient gender did not moderate the effects of these responses upon psychological outcomes. For positive aspects of spouse support, both gender and functional disability moderated the association between spouse support and psychological outcomes. These findings are integrated with the general literature on positive and negative aspects of close relationships. Implications for clinical interventions are also discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  • Abbey, A., and Andrews, F. (1985). Modeling the psychological determinants of life quality. Social Indicators Res. 16: 1–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • Abbey, A., Abramis, D., and Caplan, R. (1985). Effects of different sources of social support and social conflict on emotional well-being. Basic Appl. Social Psychol. 6: 111–130.

    Google Scholar 

  • Abbey, A., Andrews, F., and Halman, L. (1995). Provision and receipt of social support and disregard: What is their impact on the marital life quality of infertile and fertile couples? J. Personal. Social Psychol. 68: 455–469.

    Google Scholar 

  • Acitelli, L., and Antonucci, T. (1994). Gender differences in the link between marital support and satisfaction in older couples. J. Personal. Social Psychol. 67: 688–698.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aiken, L., and West, S. (1991). Multiple Regression: Testing and Interpreting Interactions, Sage, Newbury Park, CA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Andersen, B. (1994). Surviving cancer. Cancer (Suppl.) 74: 1484–1495.

    Google Scholar 

  • Argyle, M., and Furnham, A. (1983). Sources of satisfaction and conflict in long-term relationships. J. Marriage Family 45: 481–493.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barrera, M., Sandier, I., and Ramsey, T. (1981). Preliminary development of a scale of social support: Studies on college students. Am. J. Commun. Psychol. 14: 413–445.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bolger, N. (1988). Development in context: Research perspectives. In Bolger, N., Caspi, A., Downey, G., and Moorehouse, M. (eds.), Persons in Context: Developmental Processes, Cambridge, New York, pp. 1–24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bradburn, N. (1969). The Structure of Psychological Well-Being, Aldine, Chicago.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bradbury, T., and Fincham, F. (1989). Behavior and satisfaction in marriage: Prospective mediating processes. In Hendrick, C. (ed.), Close Relationships, Sage, Newbury Park, CA, pp. 119–143.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carver, C., Pozo, C., Harris, S., Noriega, V., Scheier, M., Robinson, D., Ketcham, A., Moffat, F., and Clark, (1993). How coping mediates the effects of optimism on distress. J. Personal. Social Psychol. 65: 375–391.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark, L., and Watson, D. (1988). Mood and the mundane: Relations between daily life events and self-reported mood. J. Personal. Social Psychol. 54: 296–308.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, S., and Hoberman, H. (1983). Positive events and social supports as buffers of life change stress. J. Appl. Social Psychol. 13: 99–125.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coyne, J. (1976). Toward an interactional description of depression. Psychiatry 39: 38–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coyne, J., and Downey, G. (1991). Social factors and psychopathology: Stress, social support, and coping processes. Ann. Rev. Psychol. 42: 401–425.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dakof, G., and Taylor, S. (1990). Victims' perceptions of social support: What is helpful from whom? J. Personal. Social Psychol. 58: 80–89.

    Google Scholar 

  • Depner, C., and Ingersoll-Dayton, B. (1985). Conjugal social support: Patterns in later life. J. Gerontol. 40: 761–766.

    Google Scholar 

  • de Ruiter, J., de Haes, J., and Tempelaar, R. (1993). Cancer patient and their network: The meaning of the social network and social interactions for quality of life. Support. Care Cancer 1: 152–155.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunkel-Schetter, C. (1984). Social support and cancer: Findings based on patient interviews and their implications. J. Social Issues 40: 77–98.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eagly, A. (1983). Gender and social influence: A social psychological analysis. Am. Psychol. 38: 971–981.

    Google Scholar 

  • Finch, J., and Zautra, A. (1992). Testing latent longitudinal models of social ties and depression among the elderly: A comparison of distribution-free and maximum likelihood estimates with nonnormal data. Psychol. Aging 7: 107–118.

    Google Scholar 

  • Finch, J., Okun, M., Barrera, M., Zautra, A., and Reich, J. (1989). Positive and negative social ties among older adults: Measurement models and the prediction of psychological distress and well-being. Am. J. Commun. Psychol. 17: 585–605.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fiske, S. (1980). Attention and weight in person perception: The impact of negative and extreme behavior. J. Personal. Social Psychol. 38: 889–906.

    Google Scholar 

  • Foley, S., Rounsaville, B., Weissman, M., Sholomaskas, D., and Chevron, E. (1989). Individual versus conjoint interpersonal therapy for depressed patients with marital disputes. Int. J. Family Psychiatry 10: 29–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Funch, D., and Mettlin, C. (1982). The role of support in relation to recovery from breast surgery. Social Sci. Med. 16: 91–98.

    Google Scholar 

  • Helgeson, V., and Cohen, S. (1996). Social support and adjustment to cancer: Reconciling descriptive, correlational and intervention research. Health Psychol. 15:135–148.

    Google Scholar 

  • Henderson, B., Byrne, D., Duncan-Jones, P., Scott, R., and Adcock, S. (1980). Social relationships, adversity, and neurosis: A study of associations in a general population sample. Br. J. Psychiatry 136: 574–583.

    Google Scholar 

  • Herzberg, F., Mathappo, J., Wiener, Y., and Wiesen, L. (1974). Motivation-hygiene correlates of mental health: An examination of motivational inversion in a clinical population. J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 42: 411–419.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hobfoll, S., and Stokes, J. (1988). The process and mechanics of social support. In Duck, S. (ed.), Handbook of Personal Relationships, Wiley, New York, pp. 497–517.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holtzworth-Monroe, A., and Jacobsen, N. (1985). Causal attributions of married couples: When do they search for causes? What do they conclude when they do? J. Personal. Social Psychol. 48: 1398–1412.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hooley, J., Orley, J., and Teasdale, J. (1986). Levels of expressed emotion and relapse in depressed patients. Br. J. Psychiatry 148: 642–647.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jamison, K., Wellisch, D., and Pasnau, R. (1978). Psychological aspects of mastectomy: the Woman's perspective. Am. J. Psychiatry 135: 432–436.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lichtman, R., Taylor, S., and Wood, J. (1987). Social support and marital adjustment after breast cancer. J. Psychosoc. Oncol. 5: 47–74.

    Google Scholar 

  • Manne, S. (1994). Couples coping with cancer: Research issues and recent findings. J. Clin. Psychol. Med. Set. 1: 317–330.

    Google Scholar 

  • Manne, S., and Zautra, A. (1989). Spouse criticism and support: Their association with coping and psychological distress among women with rheumatoid arthritis. J. Personal. Social Psychol. 56: 608–617.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miklowitz, D., Goldstein, M., Nuechterlein, K., Snyder, K., and Mintz, J. (1988). Family factors and the course of bipolar depressive disorder. Arch. Gen. Psychiatry 45: 225–231.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neuling, S., and Winefield, H. (1988). Social support and recovery after surgery for breast cancer: Frequency and correlates of supportive behaviors by family, friends and surgeon. Social Sci. Med. 27: 385–392.

    Google Scholar 

  • Okun, M., Melichar, J., and Hill, M. (1990). Negative daily events, positive and negative social ties, and psychological distress among older adults. Gerontologist 30: 193–199.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pagel, M., Erdly, W., and Becker, J. (1987). Social networks: We get by with (and in spite of) a little help from our friends. J. Personal. Social Psychol. 53: 793–804.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peeters, G., and Czapinski, J. (1990). Positive negative asymmetry in evaluations: The distinction between affective and informational negativity effects. Eur. Rev. Social Psychol. 1: 33–60.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pistrang, N., and Barker, C. (1995). The partner relationship in psychological response to breast cancer. Social Sci. Med. 40: 789–797.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rook, K. (1984). The negative side of social interaction: Impact on psychological well-being. J. Personal. Social Psychol. 46: 1097–1108.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rowland, J. (1989). Interpersonal resources: Social support. In Holland, J., and Rowland, J. (eds.), Handbook of Psychooncotogy, Oxford Press, New York, pp. 58–74.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ruehlman, L., and Wolchik, S. (1989). Personal goals and interpersonal support and hinderance as factors in psychological distress and well-being. J. Personal. Social Psychol. 55: 293–301.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schag, C., and Heinrich, R. (1988). Cancer Rehabilitation and Evaluation System Manual, Cares Consultants, Santa Monica, CA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schuster, T., Kessler, R., and Aseltine, R. (1990). Supportive interactions, negative interactions, and depressed mood. Am. J. Commun. Psychol. 18: 423–438.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, E., Redman, R., Burns, T., and Sagert, K. (1985). Perceptions of social support among patients with recently diagnosed breast, endometrial and ovarian cancer: An exploratory study. J. Psychosoc. Oncol. 3: 65–81.

    Google Scholar 

  • Snyder, D., and Wills, R. (1989). Behavioral versus insight-oriented marital therapy: Effects on individual and interspousal functioning. J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 57: 39–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spiegal, D., Bloom, J., and Yalom, I. (1981). Group therapy and hypnosis reduce metastic breast carcinoma pain. Arch. Gen. Psychiatry 38: 527–553.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spiegal, D., Bloom, J., and Gottheil, E. (1983). Family environment as a predictor of adjustment to metastatic breast carcinoma. J. Psychosoc. Oncol. 1: 33–44.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stanton, A., and Snider, P. (1993). Coping with breast cancer diagnosis: A prospective study. Health Psychol. 12: 16–23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, S. (1991). Asymmetrical effects of positive and negative events: The mobilization-minimization hypothesis. Psychol. Bull. 110: 67–85.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thoits, P. (1985). Social support and psychological well-being: Theoretical possibilities. In Sarason, I., and Sarason, B. (eds.), Social Support: Theory, Research and Applications, Martinus Nijhoff, Dordrecht, The Netherlands, pp. 51–72.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tempelaar, R., de Haes, J., de Ruiter, J., Bakker, D., van den Heuvel, W., and van Nieuwenhuijzen, M. (1989). The social experiences of cancer patients under treatment: A comparative study. Social Sci. Med. 29: 635–642.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, S., Shubin, A., Galbraith, M., Schwankovsky, L., and Cruzen, D. (1993). Maintaining perceptions of control: Finding perceived control in low-control circumstances. J. Personal. Social Psychol. 66: 293–304.

    Google Scholar 

  • Veit, C., and Ware, J. E., Jr. (1983). The structure of psychological distress and well-being in general populations. J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 51: 730–742.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vess, J., Moreland, J., and Schwebel, A. (1985). An empirical assessment of the effects of cancer on family role functioning. J. Psychosoc. Oncol. 3: 1–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vinokur, A., and van Ryn, M. (1993). Social support and undermining in close relationships: Their independent effects on the mental health of unemployed person. J. Personal. Social Psychol. 65: 350–359.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vinokur, A., Threatt, B., Vinokur-Kaplan, D., and Satariano, W. (1990). The process of recovery from breast cancer for younger and older patients: Changes during the first year. Cancer 65: 1242–1254.

    Google Scholar 

  • Watson, D. (1988). Intraindividual and interindividual analyses of positive and negative affect: Their relation to health complaints, perceived stress and daily activities. J. Personal. Social Psychol. 54: 1020–1030.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wethington, E., and Kessler, R. (1986). Perceived support, received support, and adjustment to stressful life events. J. Health Soc. Behav. 27: 78–89.

    Google Scholar 

  • Woods, N., and Earp, J. (1978). Women with cured breast cancer. Nurs. Res. 27: 279–285.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wortman, C. (1984). Social support and the cancer patient. Cancer 53: 2339–2360.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wortman, C., and Dunkel-Schetter, C. (1979). Interpersonal relationships and cancer: A theoretical analysis. J. Social Issues 35: 120–150.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wortman, C., and Dunkel-Schetter, C. (1987). Conceptual and methodological issues in the study of social support. In Baum, A., and Singer, J. (eds.), Handbook of Psychology and Health, Erlbaum, Hillsdale, NJ, pp. 63–108.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zautra, A., and Reich, J. (1983). Life events and perceptions of life quality: Developments in a two-factor approach. Am. J. Commun. Psychol. 11: 121–132.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zuckerman, M., Lipsts, M., Koivumaki, J., and Rosenthal, R. (1975). Encoding and decoding nonverbal cues of emotion. J. Personal. Social Psychol. 32: 1068–1076.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York

    Sharon L. Manne & Kathryn L. Taylor

  2. Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York

    James Dougherty & Nancy Kemeny

Authors
  1. Sharon L. Manne
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kathryn L. Taylor
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. James Dougherty
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Nancy Kemeny
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Manne, S.L., Taylor, K.L., Dougherty, J. et al. Supportive and Negative Responses in the Partner Relationship: Their Association with Psychological Adjustment Among Individuals with Cancer. J Behav Med 20, 101–125 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1025574626454

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1025574626454

Search

Navigation