Couple Communication in Cancer: A Multi-Method Examination

Shelby Langer

NIH/National Cancer Institute

For patients and their intimate partners, cancer poses significant physical and emotional challenges that can negatively impact both individuals and the couple as a whole. Accumulating evidence suggests that couples’ ability to communicate effectively, or lack thereof, plays a major role in the psychological adjustment of both individuals and the quality of their relationship. Two key conceptual models have been proposed to account for how communication difficulties lead to poorer outcomes: the social-cognitive processing model and the relationship intimacy model. These models posit different mechanisms and processes affecting outcomes, and thus have substantially different implications for intervention. The purpose of the proposed project is to test and compare the utility of these models using comprehensive and methodologically rigorous methods. Findings from this study have the potential to advance relationship science and our understanding of the processes through which interpersonal communication affects patient and partner adaptation to cancer. Our long-term goal is to use the results to inform theory, measurement, and the design and implementation of efficacious interventions aimed at optimizing both patient and partner well-being.