The Role of Couples' Attachment Styles in Patients' Adjustment to Cancer

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to understand how psychological variables and attachment styles can contribute to improve effective and functional adjustment to the disease and promote better psychological well-being. Methods: A total of 176 participants (88 couples) took part in this research. One member of each couple attended surgery centers at the Oncology Department of the University Hospital of Palermo. Each participant had filled in 5 questionnaires assessing the variables couple relationships, quality of life, anxiety, depression, and psychosocial adjustment to illness. Results: Significant correlations were found among the observed variables. Levels of anxiety and the attachment styles of couples influence adjustment to tumor disease and negatively affect the quality of conjugal relationships. Moreover, the results highlighted the correlation between levels of anxiety and depression in patients and in their respective partners. Finally, we found a correlation between the level of psychological distress of the patient and the level of marital satisfaction perceived by the partner: the latter is lower in couples where the oncological patient has high levels of distress. Conclusions: The results suggest that psychological variables and attachment styles of cancer patients and their partners may be important factors affecting adjustment in multiple domains.