Emotional approach coping and depressive symptoms in colorectal cancer patients: The role of the intimate relationship

ABSTRACT

This study examined whether emotional approach coping was associated with lower depressive symptoms, and whether intimacy moderated this association, in 121 married/partnered colorectal cancer (CRC) outpatients. Prospective analyses of survey data on emotional approach coping, depressive symptoms, and intimacy measured at baseline and 6-month follow-up showed that depressive symptoms were inversely related to processing, expression, and intimacy. At baseline, the association between processing and depressive symptoms was moderated by intimacy: greater processing was associated with lower depressive symptoms only for those in relatively high-intimacy relationships. Enhancing emotional approach coping efforts and relationship quality may benefit CRC patients' adjustment.

KEYWORDS:

• colorectal cancer
• coping
• emotional approach
• intimacy
• relationship quality

Funding

This study was supported by American Cancer Society Postdoctoral Fellowship PF-09-154-01-CPPB (Reese). Jennifer Barsky Reese is currently supported by a Mentored Research Scholar Grant (MRSG-14-031-01-CPPB) from the American Cancer Society and by P30CA006927 from the National Cancer Institute.