The caregiver burden in male romantic partners of women with non-metastatic breast cancer: The protective role of couple satisfaction

Abstract

We examined the evolution of the subjective burden of romantic partners caring for women with non-metastatic breast cancer and investigated the moderating role of couple satisfaction on caring stress. Forty-seven partners filled out questionnaires 3 and 12 months after surgery. Using a stress process model, we examined caring stressors and moderating factors (couple satisfaction, coping and social support) as predictors of subjective burden. Results showed that subjective burden decreases over time and that the couple satisfaction largely explains it above and beyond other influential variables. Partners dissatisfied with their couple relationship are especially vulnerable to the stress of caregiving.

The impact of both spousal caregivers’ and care recipients’ health on relationship satisfaction in the Caregiver Health Effects Study

“…In other words, it is thought that relationship satisfaction protects individuals from experiencing stress in the first place or that relationship satisfaction helps people cope effectively when they do experience stress, with stress proximally related to physical health outcomes. In the case of spousal caregivers, studies that primarily focus on caregiver outcomes show that caregivers who report greater pre-illness and current relationship satisfaction experience greater burden, depressive symptoms, and potentially harmful behaviors toward their care recipient (Cairo Notari et al, 2016; Quinn et al, 2009; Steadman et al, 2007; Williamson and Shaffer, 2001). Relatedly, it has been shown that when both caregivers and care recipients feel more compassionate love for one another, caregivers report less burden and more positive aspects of caregiving (Monin et al, 2014b).…”

We are in this together — Aren't we? Congruence of common dyadic coping and psychological distress of couples facing breast cancer

“…As defined by the Systemic‐Transactional Model (STM), distress affects both partners directly and indirectly because of their interdependence . Furthermore, the illness negatively affects not only patients (eg, fatigue, insomnia, and psychological distress) but also their partners, who experience significant caregiver burden . Therefore, BC can be understood as a shared stressor.…”

Attachment and couple satisfaction as predictors of expressed emotion in women facing breast cancer and their partners in the immediate post‐surgery period

“…Similarly, partners have to face a highly challenging situation. On the one hand, they find themselves in the role of an ‘informal caregiver’, with the duties of helping the women and taking over some (if not all) household chores; on the other hand, they have to cope with their own stress and fear of losing their loved ones (Cairo Notari, Favez, Notari, Charvoz, & Delaloye, ; Stenberg, Ruland, & Miaskowski, ; Wagner, Tanmoy Das, Bigatti, & Storniolo, ). A supporting couple relationship, at the emotional and instrumental levels, is a major factor of resilience in these situations (Giese‐Davis, Hermanson, Koopman, Weibel, & Spiegel, ; Manne et al ., ).…”