Showing papers by "Joan R. Bloom published in 1992"

Changes in marital and sexual functioning in long‐term survivors and their spouses: Testicular cancer versus hodgkin's disease

Abstract: This study compares the effects of the cancer experience on various aspects of marital and sexual functioning (e.g., communication, emotional support, body image, sexual satisfaction and frequency) for two groups of long-term cancer survivors (testicular cancer and Hodgkin's disease) and their spouses. Comparisons between the two patient groups showed significantly more survivors of Hodgkin's disease than testicular cancer reporting the emergence of special issues and changes in the marital relationship. No differences emerged between the spouse groups on sexual functioning variables; however, spouses of survivors of Hodgkin's disease were more likely than spouses of survivors of testicular cancer to report the development of special issues and communication difficulties. A substantial proportion of both survivor groups disclosed negative changes in body image and sexual frequency. Majorities of both survivors and spouses acknowledged that the illness had drawn them closer together. When representative marital/sexual functioning variables were used to predict Family Environment Scale (FES) scores for survivors and for spouses, changes in the spouse's importance, influence of the illness on the relationship, and changes in sexual frequency emerged as significant predictors. The clinical significance of long-term changes in marital and sexual functioning for the couple and the need for therapeutic interventions are discussed.

Psychosocial Assessment Of The Recovery From Mastectomy: A Comparison Of Static And Dynamic Modeling

Abstract: The psychosocial functioning of women during the year following surgery for breast cancer was compared to women who had surgery for gall bladder disease, a negative breast biopsy or no surgery. An index measuring psychological functioning was developed from a battery of commonly used self report measures. Results indicated that relative to the non-surgical group, all three surgical groups had poorer psychological functioning after surgery: all but the mastectomy group were indistinguishable one year later. These findings are due to a lack of difference in rates of recovery; the dynamic model replicates the static model generally used in analyses of the impact of disease and its treatment. The results suggest that psychological intervention may continue to be important as time post-surgery increases when the immediate trauma has lessened as well as soon after surgery.