Abstract
Cancer is an interpersonal stressor affecting both patient and spouse. To examine the pathways that insecure adult attachment can impact health outcomes by way of dyadic processes, this cross-sectional study used the actor–partner interdependence mediation model to examine whether common dyadic coping (CDC) mediated the associations between attachment and quality of life (QOL). Couples (N = 106) facing ovarian cancer were recruited from a comprehensive cancer center and completed self-report questionnaires. Results indicated that worse social and functional QOL were associated with both one’s own and one’s partner’s greater insecure attachment, by way of one’s own use of less CDC. Unexpectedly, greater CDC reported by one’s partner was associated with one’s own lower functional QOL. Although CDC has beneficial effects on QOL, CDC may also be experienced as draining. Effects of adult attachment on dyadic coping are a significant contributor to subjective health outcomes among couples facing ovarian cancer.
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This work was supported in part by two Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarships Doctoral Awards from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research awarded to Cassandra Crangle and Lindsey Torbit.
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Cassandra J. Crangle, Lindsey A. Torbit, Sarah E. Ferguson, and Tae L. Hart declare that they have no conflict of interests.
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Crangle, C.J., Torbit, L.A., Ferguson, S.E. et al. Dyadic coping mediates the effects of attachment on quality of life among couples facing ovarian cancer. J Behav Med 43, 564–575 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-019-00096-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-019-00096-3