Effects of daily coping on mood in couples dealing with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Abstract

Background: Coping is viewed as an important determinant of psychological adjustment in couples coping with illness. However, few studies have examined coping processes within the context of the everyday life of couples’ illness and treatment experience so far. Therefore, this study examines the effects of daily coping on the emotional state in patients with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) experience and their partners using the actor-partner interdependence model. Methods: One hundred sixty-one patients (after first autologous or allogeneic HSCT) and their partners (spouse or another relative) independently completed measures of positive reframing, venting, positive affect (PA), and negative affect (NA) for 28 consecutive evenings after patients’ hospital discharge. Findings: Multilevel analyses indicated that patients’ daily PA was connected with own’s and partner’s higher daily positive reframing and own’s lower daily venting, whereas a patient’s daily NA was unrelated to daily coping (own’s or partner’s). Partner’s PA was associated with own’s and patient’s higher daily positive reframing and lower daily venting. Partner’s NA was predicted by their lower positive reframing and higher venting, but also patient’s higher venting. Discussion: Findings suggest given daily positive reframing had beneficial effect on both patient and nonpatient partner, daily venting was found to be detrimental for both members of the dyad, especially nonpatient partners, whose well-being were affected also by patients’ coping behaviors. Results support previously reported crossover effect in couples coping and adjustment to illness.