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Family functioning and psychological distress among Japanese breast cancer patients and families

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Abstract

Goals of work

The purpose of this study was to develop a typology of family functioning in the families of breast cancer patients.

Patients and methods

Seventy-four families (189 individuals: 74 patients, 54 spouses, 46 offspring, and 15 other relatives) completed self-report questionnaires. Perception of family functioning was assessed using the family relationship index (FRI) and its three dimensions (cohesiveness, expressiveness, and conflict) and was classified into groups by a cluster analytic approach. Psychological distress was assessed using the Zung self-rating depression scale (SDS) and the Zung self-rating anxiety scale (SAS).

Main results

Cluster analysis yielded three groups of patients and their family members: one cluster with high cohesiveness, high expressiveness, and low conflict (“supportive” type: n=64); a second group with low cohesiveness, low expressiveness, and high conflict (“conflictive” type: n=65); and a third group with limited cohesiveness, limited expressiveness, and low conflict (“intermediate” type: n=60). Analysis of variance revealed that conflictive families manifested the highest level of depression and anxiety among these clusters.

Conclusions

Typology of family functioning can identify psychologically at-risk families. A family-focused approach can help to reduce psychological distress, especially in conflictive families.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank all the patients and their families for so willingly giving their time. The authors would also like to acknowledge the collaborative support given by the surgeons, especially Tsuyoshi Kataoka, M.D., Ph.D., and by the nursing staff of the Mammary Gland Dispensary at Hiroshima University Hospital. We also thank Minako Daino, R.N., for her dedicated assistance with the research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Division of Frontier Medical Science, Programs for Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan

    Shuichi Ozono, Toshinari Saeki, Tomoyuki Mantani & Shigeto Yamawaki

  2. Hiroshima City Medical Association-Administered Aki City Hospital, 2-14-1 Hataga, Aki-ku, Hiroshima, 736-0088, Japan

    Shinichi Inoue

  3. Institute of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan

    Hitoshi Okamura

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  1. Shuichi Ozono
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  2. Toshinari Saeki
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  3. Shinichi Inoue
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  4. Tomoyuki Mantani
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  5. Hitoshi Okamura
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  6. Shigeto Yamawaki
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Correspondence to Shigeto Yamawaki.

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Ozono, S., Saeki, T., Inoue, S. et al. Family functioning and psychological distress among Japanese breast cancer patients and families. Support Care Cancer 13, 1044–1050 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-005-0816-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-005-0816-5

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