Depression and marital satisfaction: the mediating role of sexual satisfaction and perceived partner acceptance in women after mastectomy

Abstract

health psychology report • volume 7(2), 9 original article background Diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer disrupts women's functioning on both individual and dyadic levels. The main objective of the present study was to examine whether the partner's acceptance of the woman and her sexual satisfaction can play a key role in mediating the relationship between depression and marital satisfaction in women treated for breast cancer after mastectomy. participants and procedure The sample consisted of 97 women with breast cancer after mastectomy (mean age = 55.68 years). The participants completed the following self-reported assessments: Beck's Depression Inventory, Scale of Assessment of Self-Attractiveness in the Relationship by Chybicka and Karasiewicz and the Good Marriage Questionnaire KDM-2 by Plopa and Rostowski. All women were married (89.70%) or in informal relationships (10.30%). Recruitment for the study was conducted among women from the Amazonki community. results The time since the first diagnosis and the commencement of surgical treatment was a negative predictor (β =-.36, p < .001) of marital satisfaction in women with breast cancer after mastectomy, whereas acceptance by the partner was a significant positive predictor (β = .30, p = .023); the mediation analyses showed that acceptance by the partner fully mediated the relationship between depression and marital satisfaction. Sexual satisfaction can also be considered as a significant total mediator between depression and marital satisfaction in women with breast cancer after mastectomy. conclusions The results highlight the importance of the analysed variables for marital satisfaction of women with breast cancer and can serve as a helpful guide for clinicians and other health professionals. One of the more important findings concerned the importance of acceptance by the partner as a direct predictor of marital satisfaction. The research also showed that the women's conviction about their partners' acceptance and their sexual satisfaction renders their depression impactless in terms of marital satisfaction.

Comparison of Early-Stage Mothers and Childless Women Seeking Pregnancy: Experienced Stress, Resilience and Satisfaction with Relationship with the Partner

“…Its high level was associated with higher perceived support from the partner. This shows the importance of a satisfactory sexual life for a happy marriage [ 57 , 61 ]. Many studies have shown that sexual satisfaction effectively diversifies satisfied and dissatisfied relationships—couples with higher levels of sexual satisfaction were more content [ 62 , 63 ].…”

The relationship between depression, anxiety, and pain catastrophising in cancer patients

“…In our study evaluating the relationship between depression and anxiety and pain catastrophising in cancer patients, it was found that the depression scores of the patients were normal but the anxiety scores were high, the depression and anxiety were related, and the pain catastrophising increased with the severity of depression and anxiety. Cancer pa- tients desire emotional support and the availability of someone with whom they can talk about their fears and concerns [17]. There are many emotional and behavioural reactions starting from the diagnosis and continuing during and after treatment in cancer patients.…”

Relationship between mental health and climacteric adjustment in middle aged women: a confirmatory analysis

“…The relationship between middle-aged women’s fertility changes and their mental health [ 10 ] shows that improving their mental health requires more accurate identification of the relationship between the factors affecting this cycle. Gender roles may influence psychological reactions related to menopause, such as depression and stress [ 11 ], and climacteric changes affecting these roles may convert menopause into a critical period.…”