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Marital Relationship, Body Image and Psychological Quality of Life among Breast Cancer Patients: The Moderating Role of the Disease’s Phases

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Abstract

In this cross-sectional study we analyzed the links between marital quality and intimacy, body image, and psychological quality of life (PQoL) of breast cancer patients, as well as the moderating role of cancer phase (treatment, survivorship) on the aforementioned links. We also evaluated whether body image mediated the associations between marital relationship variables and PQoL. An analysis of the data from 128 patients (66 undergoing treatment, 62 survivors) indicated that the majority of links between variables were significant only during the treatment phase. Mediating effect of body image on the associations between relationship variables and PQoL was found only at the treatment phase.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal

    Helena Moreira, Carla Crespo & Maria Cristina Canavarro

  2. Portuguese League Against Cancer, Coimbra, Portugal

    Tiago Paredes & Sónia Silva

  3. Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Frank M. Dattilio

  4. Linha de Investigação Relações, Desenvolvimento e Saúde, Instituto de Psicologia Cognitiva e Desenvolvimento Vocacional e Social (IPCDVS), Faculdade de Psicologia e Ciências da Educação, Universidade de Coimbra, Rua do Colégio Novo, Apartado 6153, 3001-802, Coimbra, Portugal

    Helena Moreira

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  1. Helena Moreira
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  2. Carla Crespo
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  3. Tiago Paredes
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  4. Sónia Silva
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  5. Maria Cristina Canavarro
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Correspondence to Helena Moreira.

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Moreira, H., Crespo, C., Paredes, T. et al. Marital Relationship, Body Image and Psychological Quality of Life among Breast Cancer Patients: The Moderating Role of the Disease’s Phases. Contemp Fam Ther 33, 161–178 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-011-9149-3

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