Predictors of perceived unsupportive behaviours by spouses in women with breast cancer

Background: Unsupportive responses from relatives and spouses play a significant role in the psychological adjustment of breast cancer patients and their spouses, about whom little is known about them and their unsupportive responses predictors. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the predictors of perceived spouse unsupportive behaviours in women with breast cancer and their spouses. Material and methods: This is a cross-sectional study, in which 220 couples, including women with breast cancer and their spouses, participated in random samples in chemotherapy and cancer hospitals in Iran in 2020. In the present study, data was collected using a demographic checklist and the Unsupportive Partner Behaviour scale. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, ANOVA, independent t-Test, Hochberg post-hoc test and Chi-square test were used for group comparison. Univariate and multivariate linear regression methods were also used to assess the effect size. Results: Predictors of perceived unsupportive behaviours in women were: number of children (p = 0.047), life with relatives (p = 0.051), residence in suburbs (p = 0.006), marital status (p = 0.001), education and occupation of the spouse (p = 0.026), going to the hospital alone (p = 0.001), type of treatment received (p = 0.242), duration of diagnosis (p = 0.018) and type of residence (p = 0.051). Moreover, predictors of perceived unsupportive behaviours in men included: education and occupation of men (p = 0.035) and women (p = 0.050), type of treatment received (p = 0.050), employment of women (p = 0.030) and men (p = 0.009), residence in suburbs (p = 0.014), marital status (p = 0.019) and going to the hospital alone (p = 0.006). Conclusions: The variety of socio-economic, demographic and therapeutic factors were shown to be predictors of perceived unsupportive behaviours by spouses with breast cancer that can be modified by healthcare professionals in order to increase a couple’s mutual support

Perceived spouse unsupportive behaviors in women with breast cancer and their spouses

Introduction. Unsupportive responses from relatives, particularly spouses, play a significant role in the psychological adjustment of breast cancer patients and their spouses. Failure to meet the physical and psychological needs of breast cancer patients and their spouses can lead to anxiety, depression, and numerous marital problems. The aim of this study was designed to describe perceived spouse unsupportive behaviors in women with breast cancer and their spouses. Material and methods. This is a cross-sectional study. A total of 220 women with breast cancer along with their husbands participated in this study through random sampling. In the present study, data collection was performed using a demographic information checklist and a questionnaire. Results. The mean perceived women’s unsupportive behavior (20.73 ± 8.44) was higher than that of men’s (18.80 ± 5.83), which was statistically significant (P = 0.003). The mean score of perceived women’s unsupportive behavior in the categories of marital status, companion, place of residence, men’s and women’s occupation, and the type of residential house, and the mean score of perceived men’s unsupportive behavior in the category of current treatment were different. Conclusions. Women perceive their spouses’ behaviors as less supportive than their spouses’ perceptions of women’s behavior, which highlights the need for husbands to be more attentive to the impact of their behavior on their wives. Furthermore, talking with each other about problems is the most imperative factor in perceiving support by couples; accordingly, it can be concluded that couples who are reluctant to talk to each other concerning the problem perceive less mutual support