DYADIC ADJUSTMENT IN BREAST CANCER: A REVIEW

Abstract

Dealing with female breast cancer (BC) strongly modulates the patient’s self-concept, hence affecting her interpersonal network, notably with the partner. In this review, we assume that the patient-partner couple reacts as a unique dyadic system when facing the experience of BC, thus influencing the disease’s adjustment and coping processes. From this point of view, BC adjustment and coping studies focused on the patient-partner couple are relevant to better understand the psychosocial dimension of this disease and plan useful dyadic support programs. The paper reviews the studies on a dyadic approach to the adjustment as well as the coping consequences of BC. The dyadic features of adjustment and coping processes over the course of illness are highlighted. The association with some specific relationship patterns as well as with the communication styles is investigated to emphasize the crucial role of conjoint psychological dynamics that define the BC dyad struggle with the illness. Finally, the literature findings on these topics are discussed together with the couple post-traumatic growth phenomena.