“Our disease”: a systematic review about dyadic coping in breast cancer

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of interventions based on dyadic coping or couple coping in cases of breast cancer diagnosis in women. Method: A systematic literature review was carried out following the PRISMA method, using the databases APA PsycNET, PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Wiley Online Library, both in Spanish and in English. The obtained articles were organized in a matrix and then assessed based on evaluation criteria for quantitative and qualitative studies. Results: 8 articles published between 2004 and 2018 were included. The interventions evaluated factors such as dyadic coping, self-image, sexual intimacy, reduction of stress and emotional distress, improvement in couple functioning and post-traumatic growth. According to the results, the interventions based on dyadic coping helped the couple to develop different abilities, although the effect was only seen in the short term. Conclusions: The study concluded that research about the effects of couple interventions related to coping with breast cancer is limited in Latin America. In addition, it was observed that dyadic coping is a nonlinear variable that changes in the health-disease process. Finally, the articles suggest that breast cancer is a disease that has biopsychosocial consequences for both members of the couple.