Marital Adjustment in Patients with Cancer: Association with Psychological Distress, Quality of Life, and Sleep Problems
Metadata
Show full item recordEditorial
MDPI
Materia
Marital adjustment Cancer Psychosocial Depressions Anxiety Quality of life
Date
2021Referencia bibliográfica
Ruiz-Marin, C.M.; Molina-Barea, R.; Slim, M.; Calandre, E.P. Marital Adjustment in Patients with Cancer: Association with Psychological Distress, Quality of Life, and Sleep Problems. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 7089. https://doi.org/10.3390/ ijerph18137089
Abstract
Marital adjustment plays a key role in the physical and psychosocial wellbeing. We conducted a cross-sectional study to evaluate marital adjustment and its association with psychological
distress, suicidal ideation, sleep problems, and quality of life in patients with cancer. We collected
demographic and clinical information using a structured survey. We assessed marital adjustment,
quality of life, psychological distress profile, and sleep problems of participants using validated
instruments: the Locke and Wallace Marital Adjustment Test (LWMAT), the Short-Form Health
Survey-12, the Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI), the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). Suicidal ideation was assessed with item nine of the BDI. Of the 130 patients
(52.3% females, mean age 57.9 ± 12.4 years) enrolled, 20 (15%) were classified as experiencing poor
marital adjustment. Moderate to severe depression, anxiety, and insomnia were found in 25.4%,
34.6%, and 24.7% of participants, respectively. Positive suicidal ideation was documented in 13.8% of
participants. We found a significant association between poor marital adjustment and depression,
anxiety, suicidal ideation, and poor sleep. Our study confirms the relevance of marital adjustment in
relation to the psychological wellbeing of patients with cancer. Depression, anxiety, and poor sleep
were found to be significantly associated with poor marital adjustment.