A Follow-up Study of Role Functioning and the Psychological Environment of Families of Cancer Patients

Fifty-four married cancer patients and their spouses with children at home completed a series of psychological instruments and participated in an intensive structured interview at Time 1. Five months later (Time 2), 29 of the 45 surviving patients and their spouses again completed the instruments. This article describes the follow-up study at Time 2 and compares the families at both time periods. The study found that families who used achieved rather than ascribed role-assignment methods before the onset of cancer, families with older children who could adopt expanded role functions, and families with more interspouse communication experienced less disruption, less role conflict, and less role strain over time. Recommendations for helping cancer patients and their families cope more effectively with the stress of cancer and its treatment also are presented.