Individual and marital adjustment in spouse pairs subsequent to mastectomy

Abstract

This study explored the effects of mastectomy for breast cancer on individual and marital adjustment. Subjects consisted of 20 spouse pairs in which the wife had single mastectomy for Stage I/II breast cancer 2.5 years prior to testing. Each spouse completed paper-and-pencil inventories measuring individual psychological adjustment and marital adjustment. Results indicate that both husbands and wives had adapted to mastectomy and were functioning well as individuals. In contrast, measures of marital adjustment indicated serious problems with extremes of cohesion and adaptability, suggesting psychological fusion and fluidity of reactions. Low levels of consensus suggest a mechanism for maintaining balance and counteracting pathogenic processes in the marital relation.