Understanding the Experience of Younger Women with Breast Cancer and Their Partners: A Cross-Sectional Investigation

Background and Purpose. In the last decade there has been a growing recognition that younger women with breast cancer represent a separate group among all women diagnosed with this illness because of unique clinical and psychosocial issues. Among the most relevant problems reported by younger women, there is an increased concern for their relationship with the partner. However, despite the recent trend toward a relational view of cancer and the evidence that has identified more difficulties and challenges for young couples, the literature hasn’t been attentive and responsive to this topic. There are only a limited number of studies addressing younger women’s close relationships or including both partners. The present study has addressed this gap investigating younger couples’ adaptation and coping with the diagnosis of breast cancer by comparing them to a group of older dyads. More specifically, this investigation described differences between younger and older patients and partners on quality of life, coping, communication and mutuality and examined the relationship between dyadic coping and quality of life.

Methods. Participants were recruited from adult patients newly diagnosed with primary non-metastatic breast cancer, for a total of 86 couples. Patients below the age of 45 and their partners were considered younger couples and compared to the remaining 51 older couples. Patients and partners completed measures of quality of life (FACT-B for patients, Illness Intrusiveness Scale and Quality of Life Questionnaire for Spouses for partners), dyadic coping (Dyadic Coping Scale) and mutuality (Mutual Psychological Development Questionnaire). Independent samples t-tests were calculated to examine differences between the two groups, while multiple regression analyses predicted quality of life of patients and partners.

Results. Younger women reported significantly worse quality of life, with more affected functioning in physical, social and emotional domains than older patients. Similarly, younger partners experienced higher illness intrusiveness, worse emotional well-being, and higher hostile dyadic coping compared with their older counterparts. Furthermore, multiple regression analyses confirmed the role younger age and hostile dyadic coping have for the quality of life of both patients and partners, with these two variables consistently identified as predictors of worse quality of life scores.

Conclusions and Implications. These findings confirm the differential impact a diagnosis of cancer has on younger patients and partners’ quality of life. The study has also examined factors that contribute to this greater vulnerability investigating the role of age and maladaptive dyadic coping behaviors in affecting the quality of life of both members of the dyad. Results emphasize the need to enhance social workers’ preparation in addressing psychosocial issues relevant to this group, and to modify screening and assessment strategies to promote better quality of care and attention to the needs of both partners.