Abstract
Background. Prostate cancer, the most common cancer in American men, may increase the risk of emotional distress in patients and their spouses. Problem‐solving skills may be related to the emotional distress of the spouses. Method. Thirty‐two spouses of prostate cancer patients completed measures of problem‐solving skills and emotional distress. Results. Proactive problem‐solving skills were related to less emotional distress in spouses. Subtypes of problem‐solving skills were differentially related to emotional distress. Conclusions. Enhancement of problem‐solving skills may contribute to improved health‐related quality of life of spouses of prostate cancer patients.