Photo Credit: FatCamera
The following is a summary of “Dyadic effects of illness perception and maladaptive cognitive-emotional regulation strategies on the fear of cancer recurrence in breast cancer patients and spouses: an actor-partner interdependence mediation model,” published in the January 2025 issue of Psychiatry by Ren et al.
Breast cancer significantly affects both patients and their spouses.
Researchers conducted a retrospective study to examine the impact of illness perception on fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) in breast cancer patient-spouse dyads, with maladaptive emotional regulation as a mediator.
They conducted a cross-sectional study with 202 dyads of patients with breast cancer and their spouses. Illness perception, maladaptive cognitive-emotional regulation strategies, and fear of cancer recurrence were assessed using the BIPQ, CERQ, and FCRI-SF, respectively. Data were analyzed using the actor-partner interdependence mediation model.
The results showed that maladaptive cognitive-emotional regulation strategies mediated the actor effects of illness perception on FCR for both patients and spouses. Illness perception was positively related to maladaptive regulation strategies, increasing FCR risk. Patients’ illness perception also had significant direct and indirect effects on spouses’ FCR through spouses’ maladaptive regulation strategies.
Investigators found that negative illness perception increased FCR risk through maladaptive regulation strategies. Targeted interventions were recommended for vulnerable patients and spouses.
Source: bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12888-024-06354-2
