Dissertation
Couples coping with cancer: a Hold Me Tight pilot intervention study
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Drexel University
May 2015
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/etd-6307
Abstract
Cancer is an illness that affects not only patients but also their partners/spouses. Thus, there is a need for more couple-based psychosocial interventions designed to help couples patients and their partners with the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Emotionally Focused Therapy for couples (EFT) is an attachment evidenced based model that has some support for use with couples coping with chronic illness. Prior researchers who evaluated couple-based psychosocial cancer interventions have included primarily white middle class samples and most focused on cognitive behavioral and psycho-educational approaches. Using attachment theory (Bowlby, 1980) and the biopsychoscial approach (Engel, 1977), this one-arm program evaluation study (pre-post test) was designed to examine if an adapted version of a couple's group therapy treatment, Hold Me Tight (HMT: Johnson, 2009) can help a racially diverse low to middle income sample of couples cope with the diagnosis and treatment of cancer in a spouse or in a committed partner. A total of seven couples, six African American and one White/Asian couple (total of n=14 participants) completed this study. The couple support group intervention (HMT) was evaluated at baseline and post-intervention. The following two specific aims were examined: 1) Assess intervention acceptability and feasibility using recruitment and retention rates, participants' reasons for refusal or dropout, and level of post-intervention participant satisfaction; and 2). Pilot test treatment efficacy by comparing the pre-test and post-test measures for couples who completed the study. A comparison of baseline and post-intervention psychological (BDI II), relationship satisfaction (RDAS), attachment (ECR-S, BARE), and impact of the cancer (IES and FACT-G, version 4.0 for patients only) measures were conducted. Descriptive statistics, paired samples t-tests, and repeated measure ANOVAs were conducted to describe pre-post differences. Despite the slower than anticipated rate of recruitment at the one referring northeastern urban oncology clinic (25 couples were referred over a 13-month recruitment period; 12 volunteered and 7 couples completed the study), findings suggest the intervention is acceptable, although more feasible for patients post-cancer treatment (survivors). According to the repeated measures ANOVA results, there were significant medium to large effects for improved relationship satisfaction (RDAS total) and a decreased traumatic impact of the cancer diagnosis (IES total) for both patients and partners from pre-intervention to post-intervention. The outcome of this one-year pilot feasibility study was evidence of a promising theoretically-based (Attachment in Couples: Hazan & Shaver, 1987) brief couple support intervention for diverse samples of couples coping with cancer, acceptability, feasibility, and pilot data.
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Details
- Title
- Couples coping with cancer
- Creators
- Laura E. Lynch - DU
- Contributors
- Maureen P. Davey (Advisor) - Drexel University (1970-)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Counseling and Family Therapy; College of Nursing and Health Professions; Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 6307; 991014632052704721