Previous research suggests that optimal couple functioning in response to a breast cancer
diagnosis depends on a couple's ability to define the experience as “our problem” and to …

This paper presents findings on how breast cancer patients and their partners cope together
with the cancer diagnosis and treatment. It expands on earlier frameworks of dyadic coping …

A diagnosis of breast cancer powerfully challenges a couple's relationship. This article
describes a research project that applied a systemic perspective to examine the ways in …

This study describes illness-related talk in marriage. Both qualitative and quantitative
methodologies were employed to identify and examine emergent themes of how couples …

Communal coping occurs when relationship partners view a stressful health problem as
“ours,” rather than yours or mine, and take collaborative action to deal with it. Although …

The authors contend that how couples cope with chronic illness may depend on who is the
ill spouse--the husband or wife. Whether spouses perceive the illness as my illness or our …

Highlights•The importance of viewing chronic illness in the context of dyadic relationships is
discussed.•Models with implicit interventions to improve couples' coping with chronic illness …

In this chapter, the author describes an innovative couple-level intervention to assist couples
who are coping with the recent diagnosis of breast cancer. The Partners in Coping Program …

Chronic illness affects couples' relationship dynamics, as well as individual functioning. A
chronic illness may present a significant amount of stress for both the patient and partner …

The authors, a mother who has had breast cancer and her daughter (aged 16 yrs) who was
born with Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder, propose that a family's …