Relationship satisfaction and self-esteem in patients with breast cancer and healthy women: the role of expected and actual personal projects support from the partner.

BACKGROUND: For breast cancer patients, the partner's support for personal projects can serve as a means of adaptation. We aimed to investigate the associations between the intimate partner's personal project support and women's well-being. METHODS: A sample of 274 Hungarian women (breast cancer patients n = 137, control n = 137) took part in the study. Expected and actually received autonomy-, directive- and emotional project support was assessed by the procedure of Personal Project Assessment. Well-being was measured by the Relationship Assessment Scale and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. For investigating the associations between project support and well-being in a multivariate way, structural equation modelling was used. RESULTS: Except for autonomy support, participants expected more support than they received. A path model indicated multiple associations between types of project support and relationship satisfaction and self-esteem. The partner's emotional project support was predictive of women's relationship satisfaction and self-esteem, while directive support was predictive of self-esteem only. The associations showed similar patterns in the subgroups of patients with breast cancer and control. CONCLUSIONS: Our results highlight the importance of involving women's subjective perspectives regarding the partner's project support while also have implications for praxis. Teaching women how to communicate their needs to their partner effectively (whether it is the need for autonomy or directive guidance) can help close the gap between expected and received support, which may in turn enhance relationship satisfaction and self-esteem.

[Attachment style, relationship and sexual satisfaction: comparing breast cancer patients and healthy women]. / Kötodési stílus, kapcsolati és szexuális elégedettség: emlorákos és egészséges nok összehasonlító vizsgálata.

Introduction: Many studies have investigated attachment styles in adults diagnosed with breast cancer: previous results indicate the importance of considering the associations between attachment style and relationship functioning in order to support better quality of life and optimal healing process in patients. Aim and method: In this study we intend to assess the attachment style (anxiety and avoidance) of Hungarian women diagnosed with breast cancer (n = 135) and to compare it with a group of women not diagnosed with cancer (n = 137). We examined attachment style in relation to self-rated health as well as relational and sexual satisfaction. Results: In the diagnosed group, we found higher level of avoidant attachment as well as poorer self-rated health, and lower relationship and sexual satisfaction. Both higher avoidance and anxiety predicted lower relationship satisfaction, while sexual satisfaction was predicted by having a breast cancer diagnosis and better self-rated health. Conclusion: Our results indicate that the attachment pattern of women diagnosed with cancer can play a role in their relationships and sexual satisfaction, along with their subjective health status. Monitoring and supporting physical, mental and relational characteristics may contribute to the attainment of better quality of life. Orv Hetil. 2020; 161(13): 510-518.