The Influence of Stigma on Quality of Life and Relationship Satisfaction for Prostate Cancer Survivors and Their Partners

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between stigma, quality of life (QoL), and relationships satisfaction for prostate cancer (PCa) survivors and their intimate and/or romantic partners. The investigator tested a theoretical model that stigma (as measured by the Social Impact Scale [SIS; Fife & Wright, 2000]) influenced QoL (as measured by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy – Prostate [FACT-P; Esper et al., 1997] and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy – General Population [FACT-GP; Cella et al., 1993]) and relationship satisfaction (as measured by the Couples Satisfaction Index [CSI; Funk & Rogge, 2007]) for both PCa survivors and their partners (N = 72 couples). The investigator hypothesized that stigma would have a negative influence on both QoL and relationship satisfaction. Further, exploratory research questions pertained to the influence of race on stigma, QoL, and relationship satisfaction, as well as examining difference in experiences of stigma based on demographic variables (e.g., age and income). The results of the structural equation model analyses identified that stigma negatively influenced QoL (R2 = .84, p < .05) and relationship satisfaction (R2 = .19, p < .05) for both PCa survivors and their partners. Race did not have statistically significant (p > .05) relationships with stigma, QoL, or relationship satisfaction and stigma was not found to be statistically different (p > .05) based on demographic variables. Implications of the results of the study include (a) practical implications for PCa survivors and their partners; (b) strategies for effective individual, group, and couples-based counseling; (c) need for counselor educators to prepare counselors to work with medically ill populations and cancer survivors; (d) PCa stigma instrument development; and (e) the necessity to examine research with couples in a dyadic fashion.

Author dc:creator

• Wood, Andrew

Contributors dc:contributor

• Barden, Sejal

• Prostate cancer
• stigma
• counseling
• quality of life
• relationship satisfaction
• couples
• Counselor Education
• Education

Language dc:language

English

Identifier

CFE0005742

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:stars.library.ucf.edu:etd-2194