Holistic Experiences and Strategies for Conducting Research With Couples.

In this article we outline methodological considerations for conducting research interviews with couples. We draw from two qualitative men’s health studies, both developed to explore social interactions between men and their partners of either sex in relation to their health practices. We utilized a combination of separate interviews and joint couple interviews. From these studies we offer insight into our experiences of using both types of interview styles, addressing four key areas which span elements across the research project journey: (a) choosing a mode of interview; (b) ethical concerns in couple research; (c) the interview as a platform for disclosure; and (d) analyzing data from couple research

Heterosexual couples and prostate cancer support groups: a gender relations analysis.

Introduction: Men diagnosed with prostate cancer (PCa) can receive supportive care from an array of sources including female partners and prostate cancer support groups (PCSGs). However, little is known about how heterosexual gender relations and supportive care play out among couples who attend PCSGs. Distilling such gender relation patterns is a key to understanding and advancing supportive care for men who experience PCa and their families

Dyadic associations between cancer-related stress and fruit and vegetable consumption among colorectal cancer patients and their family caregivers

This study examined how stress from cancer affects fruit and vegetable consumption (FVC) in cancer patients and their family caregivers during the year following diagnosis. Colorectal cancer patients and their caregivers (92 dyads) completed questionnaires at two (T1), six (T2), and 12 months post-diagnosis (T3). Individuals reported perceived cancer-related stress (CRS) at T1 and days of adequate FVC at T1 through T3. Both patients and caregivers reported inadequate FVC during the first year post-diagnosis. Latent growth modeling with actor-partner interdependence modeling revealed that, at T1, one’s own greater CRS was associated with one’s partner having fewer concurrent days of adequate FVC (ps=.01). Patients’ greater CRS predicted their own more pronounced rebound pattern in FVC (p=.01); both patients’ and caregivers’ CRS marginally predicted their partners’ change in FVC (p=.09). Findings suggest that perceived stress from cancer hinders FVC around the diagnosis, but motivates positive dietary changes by the end of the first year