Skip to main content
Journal of Patient-Reported Outcomes
Download PDF
Download ePub

A cohort study of quality of life in partners of young breast cancer survivors compared to partners of healthy controls

Journal of Patient-Reported Outcomes volume 4, Article number: 19 (2020) Cite this article

Abstract

Background

Partners of young breast cancer survivors (BCS) are at increased risk for deficits in quality of life (QoL). To intervene effectively, it is important to understand how the breast cancer experience impacts partners. The purpose of this study was to compare QoL between partners of young BCS and partners of healthy acquaintance controls.

Methods

Partners of young BCS (3–8 years post treatment and ≤ 45 years old at diagnosis) and partners of age-matched healthy acquaintance controls completed questionnaires on overall, physical (physical function, sexual difficulty), social (personal resources, sexual enjoyment, marital satisfaction, partner social support, social constraints, parenting satisfaction), psychological (depressive symptoms), and spiritual (behaviors, beliefs, and activities) QoL. Analyses included descriptive statistics and one-way ANOVA to compare partner groups on all study variables.

Results

Although partners of young BCS (n = 227) reported fewer social constraints (p < .001), they reported lower overall QoL (p < .001), fewer personal resources (p < .001), more sexual difficulty (p = .019), less sexual enjoyment (p = .002), less marital satisfaction (p = .019), more depressive symptoms (p = .024), and fewer spiritual behaviors (p < .001), beliefs (p = .001) and activities (p = .003) compared to partners of healthy acquaintance controls (n = 170). Additional analysis showed that perceptions that the relationship changed for the better since cancer, social constraints, partner social support, and depression predicted marital satisfaction among partners of young BCS.

Conclusions

Partners of young BCS are at risk for poorer overall, physical, social, psychological, and spiritual QoL compared to partners of healthy women. Interventions targeting QoL domains may enable partners to effectively support their partner and improve their QoL.

Introduction

Approximately 3.4 million women in the United States are breast cancer survivors (BCS) [1]. About 89% of all women diagnosed can expect to survive more than 5 years post-treatment [2]. Although women are surviving longer, BCS are at risk for poor physical, social, psychological, and spiritual quality of life (QoL) years after the cancer experience [3].

Many BCS have partners who also experience deficits in QoL years after the cancer experience [4]. Although limited, research has demonstrated that partners of BCS diagnosed before age 50 are disproportionately affected by cancer, as they report more QoL deficits than partners of BCS diagnosed at a later age [4]. Longitudinal studies have found that partners of young BCS have worse marital functioning, more posttraumatic stress hyperarousal, and worse overall QoL than partners of older BCS [5]. However, predictors of QOL are likely to vary greatly between partners of younger BCS and partners of older BCS, given that life circumstances and demands vary. Understanding ways in which the breast cancer experience affects young survivors’ partners’ QoL requires comparisons between partners of BCS and partners of healthy women. To date, the literature comparing partners of young BCS to partners of age-matched controls is lacking.

The aim of the current study was to compare partners of young BCS to partners of healthy acquaintance controls on long-term QoL (overall, physical, social, psychological, and spiritual). The knowledge gained from this study will help clinicians who strive to meet the needs of younger BCS and their partners.

Theoretical framework

The City of Hope Quality of Life Model, which guided the parent study [3], posits that four domains of well-being contribute to a person’s overall QoL [6, 7] [3, 4, 8]. The four domains are physical wellbeing (maintaining function and independence), social wellbeing (relationships with others), psychological wellbeing (mental health), and spiritual wellbeing (existential and religious dimensions) [7]. Together, these domains predict overall QoL.

Methods

Participants

This project was part of a larger study [1] examining QoL among BCS diagnosed 3–8 years prior. The purpose of the parent study was to compare long-term QoL in younger BCS (women diagnosed with breast cancer at age 45 years or younger) to older BCS (women diagnosed with breast cancer at ages 55–70) and age-matched healthy acquaintance controls (women within 5 years of survivors’ age who had not been diagnosed with breast cancer). Briefly, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group-American College of Radiology Imaging Network (ECOG-ACRIN) generated a list of eligible BCS to whom a study brochure was mailed. One week after the mailing, research assistants called BCS to determine interest. If BCS expressed interest, research assistants mailed informed consent to BCS, along with a postage-paid return envelope. Once signed consents were received, questionnaires were mailed to BCS. Age-matched healthy acquaintance controls were nominated by enrolled BCS. All other procedures for consenting and collecting data from healthy acquaintance controls were the same. Data were collected 2004–2010. Additional details about the parent study are reported elsewhere [3].

Analyses for the current study focused on partners of young BCS and partners of healthy acquaintance controls. A list of young BCS and healthy acquaintance controls, who reported that they lived with a partner or spouse, was extracted from the larger dataset. Using the same recruitment procedures, research assistants invited partners to participate in the study. The partners of young BCS and age-matched healthy acquaintance controls did not have to be of the same age. Rather, partners had to verify that they were married or in a serious committed relationship with the survivor or healthy acquaintance control. If partners expressed interest and consented, research assistants mailed partners questionnaires to complete. Of the 417 married/partnered young breast cancer survivors, 227 had partners who were willing to participate (54.4% response rate). Of the 324 healthy acquaintance controls who were married/partnered, 170 had partners who participated (52.4% response rate).

Measures

Socio-demographic information, including current age, education, race, ethnicity, and religious affiliation, was collected from partners of young BCS and partners of healthy acquaintance controls. Partners of young BCS were also asked if their relationship since cancer had changed for the better, gotten worse, or stayed the same. Gender was not recorded for either partner group. The City of Hope Quality of Life Model [6, 7], provided structure for assessing each QoL domain. QoL domains were measured with the scales described below. Note, for scales that asked partners of young BCS to reflect on the breast cancer experience, partners of healthy controls were asked to reflect on a “stressful event in the last 5 years.” If completed in order, partners could complete the entire questionnaire within 45 min. Measures were grouped and ordered by physical, psychological, social, spiritual, and overall QoL. Partners were encouraged to take breaks between each QoL section.

Overall quality of life

Overall QoL was measured by the Index of Well-Being (IWB) [9]. The 7-item measure asked how the participant felt about his/her life in general. Mean values were calculated with higher scores indicating better QoL (α = 0.92).

Physical QoL

Two aspects of physical functioning were assessed. First, general physical functioning was measured with the 10-item Medical Outcomes Study Physical Functioning Scale (PF-10) [10]. The scores are summed and scored positively (α = .92) [10]. Second, sexual difficulty, the physical component of sexual functioning, was assessed with the 3-item Sexual Difficulty subscale, a measure adapted from a previously validated scale [11] for use in the parent study [3]. The questions asked about the participant’s difficulty becoming aroused and having an orgasm (α = .85). The three items were summed with a higher score indicating more difficulty.

Social QoL

This domain consisted of personal resources, sexual enjoyment, marital satisfaction, partner social support, social constraints, and parenting satisfaction. The 15-item Personal Resource Questionnaire measured support from other people such as friends, co-workers, relatives, and others in the participant’s social network [12]. The sum of the 15 items was taken with a higher score indicating greater support from personal resources (α = .91). Sexual enjoyment, the social component of sexual functioning, was measured with a modified 4-item Sexual Enjoyment subscale adapted from a previously validated measure [11]. The subscale asked participants about interest in sexual activities, ability to relax and enjoy sexual activities, satisfaction with frequency of sexual activities, and frequency of sexual thoughts or fantasies. This checklist was summed with higher scores relating to more enjoyment and satisfaction.

Marital satisfaction was measured with the previously validated 15-item Evaluating and Nurturing Relationship Issues, Communication, and Happiness Marital Satisfaction Scale (ENRICH MSS). The items were summed with higher scores indicating greater marital satisfaction (α = .91) [13]. Perceived social support from the partner was measured with the 7-item Northouse Social Support Scale, which was developed and validated in cancer populations [14]. Higher scores indicated greater social support (α = .84). Social constraints were measured using 14 items from the Lepore Social Constraints Scale, which has been validated in prior oncology populations [15]. The scale asked participants how often they perceived behaviors that limited discussions of cancer or a serious life event (i.e. avoidance, denial, problem minimization) from their partner in the last four weeks (α = .89). Scores were the sum of all items with higher scores indicating more social constraints. The Parenting Satisfaction Questionnaire asked participants to describe satisfaction with their parenting abilities. The sum of the 5 items was calculated with higher scores indicating more parenting satisfaction (α = .84).

Psychological QoL

This domain was measured using the Centers for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale [16], a well-used, 20-item summated scale of depressive symptoms. Scores above 16 were consistent with clinical depression (α = .87).

Spiritual QoL

The Reed Spiritual Perspectives Scale, previously developed and validated, was composed of 10 items, 4 describing spiritual behaviors (prayer, spiritual discussions with family and friends) and 6 describing spiritual beliefs [17]. Mean values were calculated, with responses ranging 1–6 for each item. Two items were added to describe involvement in spiritual activities such as attending religious events (α = .96).

Statistical analysis

All analyses were conducted using SPSS 25 [18]. Descriptive statistics, including frequencies and measures of central tendency, were computed for all demographic variables, including age, race, ethnicity, years of education, and religious affiliation. Analysis of variance was used to test group differences in QoL between partners of young BCS and partners of healthy acquaintance controls, with a Bonferroni post hoc analysis (which adjusts for multiple comparisons) was used to identify specific differences between groups.

Results

Sample characteristics

The majority of partners of BCS (n = 227) and partners of healthy acquaintance controls (n = 170) were well educated (mean = 15 years, SD = 2.7), white (92%), and Christian (84%), with an average age of 48 years (SD = 7.8). On average, partners of BCS were 5.5 years out from their partner’s breast cancer diagnosis. There were no significant group differences on demographic variables. Table 1 provides a full list of demographics and group differences.

Table 1 Demographic information for partners of young breast cancer survivors and partners of healthy acquaintance controls
Full size table

QoL differences between groups

Because groups were not significantly different on any demographic variable, no variables were entered into analyses as covariates. Table 2 reports the mean differences and associated Cohen’s d effect sizes between partner groups for all scales. Compared to their counterparts, partners of BCS generally reported worse functioning. In each QoL domain, significant differences between partners of young BCS and partners of healthy acquaintance controls were found. All significant group differences were small in effect size using the standard for reporting Cohen’s d.

Table 2 Differences between Partners of Young Breast Cancer Survivors and Partners of Healthy Acquaintance Controls
Full size table

Overall well-being. Compared to partners of healthy acquaintance controls, partners of young BCS reported lower overall QoL (p < .001). Physical well-being. No group differences were found on general physical functioning. However, partners of young BCS had more sexual difficulty (p = .019). Social well-being. Partners of young BCS had less sexual enjoyment (p = .002), fewer personal resources (p < .001), lower marital satisfaction (p = .019), and fewer social constraints (p < .001) compared to partners of healthy acquaintance controls. No other significant differences in social well-being were found. Psychological well-being. Compared to partners of healthy acquaintance controls, partners of young BCS reported poorer psychological well-being, as evidenced by more depressive symptoms (p = .024). Spiritual well-being. Finally, partners of young BCS reported fewer spiritual behaviors (p < .001), beliefs (p = .001), and activities (p = .003).

Marital satisfaction

Because there were group differences on marital satisfaction and other relationship-focused variables, we conducted additional analyses to explore predictors of the marital relationship. Analyzing partners of young BCS and partners of healthy controls separately, we regressed marital satisfaction on all demographic (age, education, race, ethnicity, religious affiliation), physical (physical functioning and sexual functioning difficulty), psychological (depressive symptoms), spiritual (beliefs, behaviors, and activities), and social (sexual functioning enjoyment (social support and social coonstraints). Variables were removed from the model using a backward selection method until the final models were reached.

For partners of young BCS, marital satisfaction was predicted (r2 = .32 F = 24.06 [p < .001]) by the partner responding that the marital relationship changed for the better since cancer (β = −.15; p = .018), lower depression scores (β = −.25, p < .001), fewer social constraints (β = −.16, p = .02), and greater social support from the survivor (β = .24, p < .001). The regression analysis is presented in Table 3.

Table 3 Regression Analysis for Marital Satisfaction in Partners of Young Breast Cancer Survivors
Full size table

For partners of healthy controls, marital satisfaction was predicted (r2 = .28 F = 32 [p < .001]) by low sexual functioning difficulty (β = −.22, p < .001), and greater social support from the partner (β = .47, p < .001). The regression analysis is presented in Table 4.

Table 4 Regression Analysis for Marital Satisfaction in Partners of Healthy Acquaintance Controls
Full size table

Discussion

This study was the first to explore QoL (physical, psychological, spiritual, social, and overall) differences between partners of young, long-term breast cancer survivors and partners of healthy acquaintance controls. Partners of young survivors reported worse functioning in at least some aspect of every QoL domain. Partners of young breast cancer survivors reported worse marital satisfaction than partners of healthy controls. Furthermore, differences in the marital relationship and what contributed to marital satisfaction for each group were explored.

Overall QoL

This study was the first to explore QoL (overall, physical, social, psychological, and spiritual) differences between partners of young, long-term BCS and partners of healthy acquaintance controls. We found that partners of young BCS reported worse functioning in at least some aspect of each QoL domain. Additionally, partners of young BCS reported worse marital satisfaction than partners of healthy controls. Among partners of young BCS, social support from the survivor, social constraints, perceptions that the relationship changed for the better since cancer, and depression contributed to marital satisfaction.

Overall QoL

Partners of young BCS reported worse overall QoL than partners of healthy acquaintance controls. QoL is, by definition, associated with optimal functioning in all domains [6, 7, 19]. Given the lower QoL scores in each domain, it is not surprising that partners of BCS also reported worse overall QoL.

Physical QoL

While partners of young BCS reported more sexual difficulty, no other physical functioning differences were reported, which is in line with previous work [20]. Only one other study examined physical functioning in partners at one year post-diagnosis. Shor and colleagues found lower overall physical functioning among BCS partners compared to healthy controls [21]. In that study, many of the BCS were still in active treatment, a very stressful time for BCS and partners alike, which may have contributed to their poorer physical functioning. With regards to sexual difficulty, previous studies have identified erectile dysfunction in up to two-thirds of partners of BCS [22]. Sexual problems have been associated with depressive symptoms, which many partners of young BCS commonly report [23].

Psychological QoL

Partners of young BCS reported more depressive symptoms than partners of healthy acquaintance controls [24]. Other studies have shown that nearly a third of partners expressed depressive symptoms within the first year after the survivor’s breast cancer diagnosis [19, 20]. Many studies across cultures also have reported higher depressive symptoms in partners of BCS compared to partners of healthy women [21, 25, 26] and similar levels of depressive sympmtoms as the BCS themselves [27].

Social QoL

Partners of young BCS reported less sexual enjoyment, less interest in sexual activities, less satisfaction with the frequency of sexual activity, and less frequently having sexual thoughts or fantasies than partners of healthy controls. Lower sexual satisfaction among partners has been associated with lower overall sexual functioning, arousal, and sexual satisfaction among BCS [22].

Partners of young BCS expressed having fewer personal resources, or less support in their social network, which is common among partners and caregivers during and immediately following cancer treatment. This perceived lack of a supportive network is attributed to diminished social, leisure, and relaxation activities because of caregiving demands [28]. Results of the present study extend the current literature by showing this isolation may persist years after treatment.

Finally, partners of young BCS scored lower for marital satisfaction than AP. Because there were group differences in marital satisfaction and relationship-focused variables, we explored group differences in the marital relationship further.

Spiritual QoL

Partners of young BCS reported fewer spiritual behaviors, spiritual beliefs, and spiritual activities. These findings are consistent with previous studies that suggested spiritual needs are common among caregivers of patients with cancer [5, 29]. Caring for a loved one with cancer can impact how caregivers view themselves, others, and the world, at times resulting in spiritual and existential distress (e.g., a loss of meaning and purpose in life) [30, 31]. Low levels of spiritual well-being in cancer caregivers have been associated with a range of negative mental health outcomes [32,33,34]. It is important to note that these previous studies primarily examined caregivers of patients actively in treatment and/or close to their diagnosis. Our current findings suggest spiritual concerns may persist for many years. More research is needed to replicate and futher characterize these findings.

Marital satisfaction

Notably, partners of young BCS reported worse marital satisfaction than partners of healthy acquaintance controls. However, in the parent study, the survivors and healthy acquaintance controls to whom these partners were matched did not differ on marital satisfaction [3].

Marital satisfaction for both partners of young BCS and partners of healthy acquaintance controls was predicted by social support from the spouse/partner. For partners of healthy of acquaintance controls, less sexual functioning difficulty uniquely predicted marital satisfaction. For partners of young BCS, additional unique factors including both personal (e.g., depression) and interpersonal factors (e.g., relationship changed for the better since cancer and fewer social constraints) contributed to marital satisfaction. Our results complement previous work. In one study, 74.6% of partners reported that cancer had changed their relationship with 8.6% indicating the relationship had only changed for the worse [35]. In another study, Segrin and colleagues found that partners of women recently diagnosed with breast cancer, relationship satisfaction was associated with better mental health [36]; specifically, low depression scores in partners of young BCS were associated with higher marital satisfaction. However, that team also found that distress levels subsided over time [36]. Partners in the current study were an average of 5.5 years out from their spouse/partner’s breast cancer diagnosis, and many still reported clinically significant depression [4] and marital dissatisfaction.

Strengths and limitations

Despite the many strengths associated with this large data set, there were also limitations. First, data were cross-sectional from a non-experimental cohort study, and thus this limits the ability to determine causal relationships between cancer experience and QoL. Second, because the data were cross-sectional 3–8 years after the cancer survivor’s diagnosis, any potential differences in partner groups prior to the diagnosis could not be captured. This may be why effect sizes were small between groups. Third, partner groups and their female partners [3] were primarily Caucasian and more highly educated than the average American, which may make them less representative of the general population. Fourth, income, which may contribute to QoL, was not requested from partners. Finally, partners of healthy acquaintance controls were asked to reflect on a “stressful life event” for several of the scales, including social constraints and social support scales, where partners of young long-term BCS were asked to reflect specifically on the breast cancer diagnosis. Without knowing the type of event partners of healthy acquaintance controls used for their reflection, it is difficult to compare the severity of experiences.

Conclusions

Partners of young BCS and partners of healthy acquaintance controls differed greatly, with partners of young BCS fairing worse in overall, physical (sexual difficulty), social (personal resources, sexual enjoyment, marital satisfaction, and social constraints), psychological (depression), and spiritual (behaviors, beliefs, and activities) QoL. Additionally, marital satisfaction for partners of young BCS was predicted by both personal and interpersonal factors. Notably, these QoL deficits were observed even though survivors were an average of 5.5 years out from diagnosis, which speaks to the long-term effects of cancer on partners.

Healthcare providers should be aware of these effects and include partners in their assessment of QoL deficits, including marital satisfaction. Further research is needed on intervention strategies for partners of BCS. Specifically, tailoring programs to meet partner needs may be especially beneficial [37], as partners express diverse needs [38, 39] that differ during treatment (i.e. finding parking, making appointments, and dealing with insurance questions) and following treatment (i.e. handling fear of recurrence and depression) [40]. Three approaches may be useful for supporting partners of BCS.

First, psychoeducational support is one of the most widely used therapeutic approaches for partners of cancer survivors [41]. These interventions usually combine education about cancer treatment and symptoms [42], the lasting effects of cancer on the partner, social support, intimacy [43], communication, sexuality [44] and more [45]. Studies of psychoeducational support have shown a small to medium effect size [46]. Because partners reported such wide-ranging long-term problems, a psychoeducational support intervention could be tailored to meet their individualized needs.

Second, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is a behavioral intervention that has been used in partners of cancer patients. ACT incorporates mindfulness- and acceptance-based processes to reduce interference of difficult internal experiences (e.g., fear, depressive symptoms) with meaningful activities and QoL that has been used in partners of cancer patients [47]. ACT can help partners clarify and commit to their personal values and be more self-compassionate when experiencing negative thoughts and feelings [48]. Because a large portion of partners in this study reported QoL deficits, this may be an especially beneficial approach to alleviate factors (i.e. depressive symptoms) contributing to those deficits.

Third, meaning-centered psychotherapy has recently been adapted to address the spiritual and existential concerns of cancer caregivers [49]. This approach was originally developed for patients with advanced cancer [50], but it has demonstrated feasibility and acceptability as a web-based psychotherapy for caregivers [51]. Because partners of BCS reported low levels of spiritual behaviors, beliefs, and activities, they may be receptive to an intervention designed to help with existential issues. Using interventions that target partners’ specific problems will be useful in meeting their diverse needs.

Availability of data and materials

The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Abbreviations

ACT:

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

BCS:

Breast cancer survivors

ECOG-ACRIN:

Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group-American College of Radiology Imaging Network

QoL:

Quality of life

SPSS:

Statistical Package for Social Sciences

References

  1. Surveillance, E., and End Results (SEER) Program (www.seer.cancer.gov) Research Data (1973–2015), National Cancer Institute, DCCPS, Surveillance Research Program, released April 2018, based on the November 2017 submission.

  2. DeSantis, C. E., Ma, J., Goding Sauer, A., Newman, L. A., & Jemal, A. (2017). Breast cancer statistics, 2017, racial disparity in mortality by state. CA Cancer J Clin, 67(6), 439–448.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Champion, V. L., Wagner, L. I., Monahan, P. O., Daggy, J., Smith, L., Cohee, A., et al. (2014). Comparison of younger and older breast cancer survivors and age-matched controls on specific and overall quality of life domains. Cancer, 120(15), 2237–2246.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Cohee, A. A., Bigatti, S. M., Shields, C. G., Johns, S. A., Stump, T., Monahan, P. O., et al. (2018). Quality of life in partners of young and old breast cancer survivors. Cancer Nurs, 41(6), 491–497.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Lambert, S. D., Harrison, J. D., Smith, E., Bonevski, B., Carey, M., Lawsin, C., et al. (2012). The unmet needs of partners and caregivers of adults diagnosed with cancer: A systematic review. BMJ Supportive and Palliative Care, 2(3), 224–230.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Ferrell, B. R., Grant, M., Funk, B., Otis-Green, S., & Garcia, N. (1997). Quality of life in breast cancer: Part I: Physical and social well-being. Cancer Nurs, 20(6), 398.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Ferrell, B. R., Grant, M., Funk, B., Otis-Green, S., & Garcia, N. (1998). Quality of life in breast cancer: Part II: Psychological and spiritual well-being. Cancer Nurs, 21(1), 1.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Cohee, A. A., Stump, T., Adams, R. N., Johns, S. A., Von Ah, D., Zoppi, K., et al. (2016). Factors associated with depressive symptoms in young long-term breast cancer survivors. Qual Life Res, 25(8), 1991–1997.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Campbell, A., Converse, P. E., & Rogers, W. L. (1976). The quality of American life: Perceptions, evaluations, and satisfactions. New York, NY: Russell Sage Foundation.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Haley, S. M., McHorney, C. A., & Ware, J. E. (1994). Evaluation of the MOS SF-36 physical functioning scale (PF-10): I. Unidimensionality and reproducibility of the Rasch item scale. J Clin Epidemiol, 47(6), 671–684.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Hudson, W. W., Harrison, D. F., & Crosscup, P. C. (1981). A short-form scale to measure sexual discord in dyadic relationships. Journal of Sex Research, 17(2), 157–174.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Weinert, C., & Brandt, P. A. (1987). Measuring social support with the personal resource questionnaire. West J Nurs Res, 9(4), 589–602.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Fowers, B. J., & Olson, D. H. (1993). ENRICH marital satisfaction scale: A brief research and clinical tool. J Fam Psychol, 7(2), 176.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Northouse, L. L., Templin, T., Mood, D., & Oberst, M. (1998). Couples' adjustment to breast cancer and benign breast disease: A longitudinal analysis. Psycho-Oncology, 7(1), 37–48.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Lepore, S., & Ituarte, P. H. (1999). Optimism about cancer enhances mood by reducing negative social interactions. Cancer Research, Therapy and Control, 8(3), 165–174.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Radloff, L. S. (1977). The CES-D scale: A self report depression scale for research in the general. Appl Psychol Meas, 1(3), 385–401.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Reed, P. G. (1987). Spirituality and well-being in terminally ill hospitalized adults. Research in Nursing & Health, 10(5), 335–344.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Corporation, I. (2014). IBM SPSS statistics for windows, Version 23.0.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Lambert, S., Girgis, A., Descallar, J., Levesque, J. V., & Jones, B. (2017). Trajectories of mental and physical functioning among spouse caregivers of cancer survivors over the first five years following the diagnosis. Patient Educ Couns, 100(6), 1213–1221.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Götze, H., Ernst, J., Brähler, E., Romer, G., & von Klitzing, K. (2015). Predictors of quality of life of cancer patients, their children, and partners. Psycho-Oncology, 24(7), 787–795.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Shor, V., Grinstein-Cohen, O., Reinshtein, J., Liberman, O., & Delbar, V. (2015). Health-related quality of life and sense of coherence among partners of women with breast cancer in Israel. Eur J Oncol Nurs, 19(1), 18–22.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Hummel, S. B., Hahn, D. E., van Lankveld, J. J., Oldenburg, H. S., Broomans, E., & Aaronson, N. K. (2017). Factors associated with specific diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, sexual dysfunctions in breast cancer survivors: A study of patients and their partners. J Sex Med, 14(10), 1248–1259.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Milbury, K., & Badr, H. (2013). Sexual problems, communication patterns, and depressive symptoms in couples coping with metastatic breast cancer. Psycho-Oncology, 22(4), 814–822.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Litzelman, K., & Yabroff, K. R. (2015). How are spousal depressed mood, distress, and quality of life associated with risk of depressed mood in cancer survivors? Longitudinal findings from a national sample. Cancer Epidemiol Biomark Prev, 24(6), 969–977.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Moreira, H., & Canavarro, M. C. (2013). Psychosocial adjustment and marital intimacy among partners of patients with breast cancer: A comparison study with partners of healthy women. J Psychosoc Oncol, 31(3), 282–304.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Zhu, P., Fu, J.-F., Wang, B., Lin, J., Wang, Y., Fang, N.-N., et al. (2014). Quality of life of male spouse caregivers for breast cancer patients in China. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 15(10), 4181–4185.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Congard, A., Christophe, V., Duprez, C., Baudry, A.-S., Antoine, P., Lesur, A., et al. (2019). The self-reported perceptions of the repercussions of the disease and its treatments on daily life for young women with breast cancer and their partners. J Psychosoc Oncol, 37(1), 50–68.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Fotiadou, M. (2007). Coping with Cancer: Family caregivers and psychological burden. Focus on Disability: Trends in Research And Application, Volume II, 165.

  29. Hebert, R. S., Weinstein, E., Martire, L. M., & Schulz, R. (2006). Religion, spirituality and the well-being of informal caregivers: A review, critique, and research prospectus. Aging Ment Health, 10(5), 497–520.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Park, C. L. (2010). Making sense of the meaning literature: An integrative review of meaning making and its effects on adjustment to stressful life events. Psychol Bull, 136(2), 257.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Taylor, E. J. Prevalence and associated factors of spiritual needs among patients with cancer and family caregivers. In Oncology Nursing Forum, 2006 (Vol. 33, Vol. 4).

  32. Colgrove, L. A., Kim, Y., & Thompson, N. (2007). The effect of spirituality and gender on the quality of life of spousal caregivers of cancer survivors. Ann Behav Med, 33(1), 90–98.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Kim, Y., Wellisch, D. K., Spillers, R. L., & Crammer, C. (2007). Psychological distress of female cancer caregivers: Effects of type of cancer and caregivers’ spirituality. Support Care Cancer, 15(12), 1367–1374.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Adams, R. N., Mosher, C. E., Cannady, R. S., Lucette, A., & Kim, Y. (2014). Caregiving experiences predict changes in spiritual well-being among family caregivers of cancer patients. Psycho-Oncology, 23(10), 1178–1184.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Drabe, N., Wittmann, L., Zwahlen, D., Büchi, S., & Jenewein, J. (2013). Changes in close relationships between cancer patients and their partners. Psycho-Oncology, 22(6), 1344–1352.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Segrin, C., Badger, T. A., Meek, P., & Bonham, E. (2006). Interpersonal well being and mental health in male partners of women with breast cancer. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 27, 1–19.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Wittmann, D. (2016). Emotional and sexual health in cancer: Partner and relationship issues. Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care, 10(1), 75–80.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Hodgkinson, K., Butow, P., Hunt, G., Wyse, R., Hobbs, K., & Wain, G. (2007). Life after cancer: Couples’ and partners’ psychological adjustment and supportive care needs. Support Care Cancer, 15(4), 405–415.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Turner, D., Adams, E., Boulton, M., Harrison, S., Khan, N., Rose, P., et al. (2011). Partners and close family members of long-term cancer survivors: Health status, psychosocial well-being and unmet supportive care needs. Psycho-Oncology.

  40. Carter-Harris, L., Ellis, R. B., Warrick, A., & Rawl, S. (2016). Beyond traditional newspaper advertisement: Leveraging Facebook-targeted advertisement to recruit long-term smokers for research. J Med Internet Res, 18(6), e117.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Ussher, J. M., Perz, J., Hawkins, Y., & Brack, M. (2009). Evaluating the efficacy of psycho-social interventions for informal carers of cancer patients: A systematic review of the research literature. Health Psychol Rev, 3(1), 85–107.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Tercyak, K. P., Mays, D., DeMarco, T. A., Sharff, M. E., & Friedman, S. (2012). Results of an online community needs assessment for psychoeducational interventions among partners of hereditary breast cancer previvors and survivors. J Med Internet Res, 14(1), e15.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Rowland, J. H., Meyerowitz, B. E., Crespi, C. M., Leedham, B., Desmond, K., Belin, T. R., et al. (2009). Addressing intimacy and partner communication after breast cancer: A randomized controlled group intervention. Breast Cancer Res Treat, 118(1), 99.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Taylor, S., Harley, C., Ziegler, L., Brown, J., & Velikova, G. (2011). Interventions for sexual problems following treatment for breast cancer: A systematic review. Breast Cancer Res Treat, 130(3), 711–724.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Bultz, B. D., Speca, M., Brasher, P. M., Geggie, P. H., & Page, S. A. (2000). A randomized controlled trial of a brief psychoeducational support group for partners of early stage breast cancer patients. Psycho-Oncology: Journal of the Psychological, Social and Behavioral Dimensions of Cancer, 9(4), 303–313.

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Northouse, L. L., Katapodi, M. C., Song, L., Zhang, L., & Mood, D. W. (2010). Interventions with family caregivers of cancer patients: Meta-analysis of randomized trials. CA Cancer J Clin, 60(5), 317–339.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  47. Köhle, N., Drossaert, C. H., Schreurs, K. M., Hagedoorn, M., Verdonck-de Leeuw, I. M., & Bohlmeijer, E. T. (2015). A web-based self-help intervention for partners of cancer patients based on acceptance and commitment therapy: A protocol of a randomized controlled trial. BMC Public Health, 15(1), 303.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Köhle, N., Drossaert, C. H., Jaran, J., Schreurs, K. M., Verdonck-de Leeuw, I. M., & Bohlmeijer, E. T. (2017). User-experiences with a web-based self-help intervention for partners of cancer patients based on acceptance and commitment therapy and self-compassion: A qualitative study. BMC Public Health, 17(1), 225.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Applebaum, A. J., Kulikowski, J. R., & Breitbart, W. (2015). Meaning-centered psychotherapy for cancer caregivers (MCP-C): Rationale and overview. Palliative and Supportive Care, 13(6), 1631–1641.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  50. Breitbart, W. (2002). Spirituality and meaning in supportive care: Spirituality-and meaning-centered group psychotherapy interventions in advanced cancer. Support Care Cancer, 10(4), 272–280.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  51. Applebaum, A., Buda, K., Schofield, E., Farberov, M., Teitelbaum, N., Evans, K., et al. (2018). Exploring the cancer caregiver's journey through web-based meaning-centered psychotherapy. Psycho-Oncology, 27(3), 847–856.

    CAS  PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Not applicable.

Funding

This study was coordinated by the ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group (Robert L. Comis, MD and Mitchell D. Schnall, MD, PhD, Group Co-Chairs) and supported in part by Public Health Service Grants CA189828, CA180795, CA37403, CA35199, CA17145 and CA49883, and from the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health and the Department of Health and Human Services.

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number K05CA175048 (VC (PI), AC, and SS). AC is supported by Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (KL2 Program), UL1TR002529 (A Shekhar, PI), 05/18/2018–04/30/2023. Its content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Cancer Institute or the National Institute of Nursing Research.

SS was supported by a Release Time for Research award from the IUPUI Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research. JW was supported by a Postdoctoral Fellowship (PF-17-054-01-PCSM) from the American Cancer Society.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Indiana University School of Nursing, 600 Barnhill Drive, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA

    Andrea Cohee, Susan Storey & Victoria L. Champion

  2. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA

    Joseph G. Winger

  3. Department of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA

    David Cella

  4. Department of Biostatistics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

    Timothy Stump & Patrick O. Monahan

Authors
  1. Andrea Cohee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Susan Storey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Joseph G. Winger
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. David Cella
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Timothy Stump
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Patrick O. Monahan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Victoria L. Champion
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Dr. Cohee analyzed and interpreted data and drafted the majority of the manuscript. Dr. Storey provided substantive revisions. Dr. Winger drafted some of the work and substantively revised it. Dr. Cella and Dr. Champion contributed to the conception and design of the parent study and provided substantive revisions to the manuscript. Dr. Monahan and Mr. Stump contributed to the analysis and interpretation of data. All have agreed both to be personally accountable for his/her own contributions and ensured the accuracy and integrity of the work.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Andrea Cohee.

Ethics declarations

Ethics approval and consent to participate

This study was approved by the internal review board at the sponsoring institution (Indiana University) and all 97 ECOG-ACRIN sites. Participants provided written consent and were told they could end their study participation at any time.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article's Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article's Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Cohee, A., Storey, S., Winger, J.G. et al. A cohort study of quality of life in partners of young breast cancer survivors compared to partners of healthy controls. J Patient Rep Outcomes 4, 19 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s41687-020-0184-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s41687-020-0184-4

Keywords

  • Breast cancer
  • Partners
  • Acquaintance control
  • Quality of life