The Dyadic Regulation Approach of Coping and Illness Representations in Female Cancer Patients and Their Partners

Purpose: Adjustment to any illness is a 'dyadic' process whereby patients and their partners mutually determine each other's perceptions, behaviours, and well-being. The present study explored the association between dyadic coping strategies and illness representations in newly diagnosed female cancer patients and their partners.

Methods: The sample consisted of 92 female cancer patient-partner pairs from 3 oncology hospitals in Greece and Cyprus. The Actor Partner Interdependence Model was applied to test for dyadic regulation effects.

Results: The findings revealed that patients' evaluations of dyadic coping were related to their own illness representations and, in some cases, to partners' illness representations of control. However, partner evaluations of dyadic coping were not associated with either patients' or their own illness representations. Relationship satisfaction did not moderate the relationship between dyadic coping and illness representations.

Implications: The study suggests that patients' perceptions of support provided by themselves and their partners play a significant role in shaping their illness representations. Future research could delve into the underlying reasons for the observed differences in the impact of dyadic coping on illness representations between patients and partners, considering factors such as gender roles and specific gender-related issues.