Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2009 Jul;18(7):735-46.
doi: 10.1002/pon.1449.

Sexual dysfunction and spousal communication in couples coping with prostate cancer

Affiliations

Sexual dysfunction and spousal communication in couples coping with prostate cancer

Hoda Badr et al. Psychooncology. 2009 Jul.

Abstract

Objective: To characterize the sexual function of both prostate cancer patients and their partners, and to examine whether associations between sexual dysfunction and psychosocial adjustment vary depending on spousal communication patterns.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 116 prostate cancer patients and their partners completed psychosocial questionnaires.

Results: Patients and partners reported high rates of sexual dysfunction. Within couples, patients' and their partners' sexual function was moderately to highly correlated (r=0.30-0.74). When patients had poor erectile function, their partners were more likely to report that the couple avoided open spousal discussions; this in turn was associated with partners' marital distress (Sobel's Z=12.47, p=0.001). Patients and partners who reported high levels (+1SD) of mutual constructive communication also reported greater marital adjustment, regardless of their own sexual satisfaction. In contrast, greater sexual dissatisfaction was associated with poorer marital adjustment in patients and partners who reported low levels (-1SD) of mutual constructive communication (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Our findings underscore the need for psychosocial interventions that facilitate healthy spousal communication and address the sexual rehabilitation needs of patients and their partners after prostate cancer treatment. Although some couples may be reluctant to engage in constructive cancer-related discussions about sexual problems, such discussions may help alleviate the negative impact that sexual problems have on prostate cancer patients' and their partners' marital adjustment.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Moderating effects of mutual constructive communication on the associations between patient erectile function/intercourse satisfaction and patient marital adjustment
Figure 2
Figure 2
Mediating effects of communication patterns on the association between patients’ erectile function and partners’ marital adjustment
Figure 3
Figure 3
Moderating effects of mutual constructive communication on the association between partners’ sexual satisfaction and their marital adjustment

Similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. Sanders S, Pedro LW, Bantum EO, Galbraith ME. Couples surviving prostate cancer: long-term intimacy needs and concerns following treatment. Clin J Oncol Nurs. 2006;10:503–508. - PubMed
    1. Kornblith A, Herr H, Ofman U, Sher H, Holland J. Quality of life of patients with prostate cancer and their spouses: the value of a database in clinical care. Cancer. 1994;73:2791–2802. - PubMed
    1. Litwin MS, Hays RD, Fink A, et al. Quality-of-life outcomes in men treated for localized prostate cancer. J Am Med Assoc. 1995;273:129–135. - PubMed
    1. Ries L, Melbert D, Krapcho M, et al. SEER Cancer Statistics Review, 1975– 2004. National Cancer Institute; Bethesda, MD: 2007. (Available from: http://seer.cancer.gov/csr/1975_2004/, based on November 2006 SEER data submission, posted to the SEER web site 2007.)
    1. Lindau ST, Schumm LP, Laumann EO, et al. A study of sexuality and health among older adults in the United States. N Engl J Med. 2007;357:762–774. - PMC - PubMed

Publication types