Sexual problems, communication patterns, and depressive symptoms in couples coping with metastatic breast cancer
Abstract
The treatment of breast cancer tends to result in physical side effects (e.g., vaginal dryness, stomatitis, and atrophy) that can cause sexual problems. Although studies of early‐stage breast cancer have demonstrated that sexual problems are associated with increased depressive symptoms for both patients and their partners, comparatively little is known about these associations in metastatic breast cancer (MBC) and how patients and partners cope together with sexual problems. We examined the links between sexual problems, depressive symptoms, and two types of spousal communication patterns (mutual constructive and demand–withdraw) in 191 couples in which the patient was initiating treatment for MBC.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- May 04, 2012
- Source ID
- 10.1002/pon.3079
Entities
People
- Hoda Badr
- Kathrin Milbury
Organizations
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- United States Army Medical Research and Development Command
- University of Texas at Austin