TY - JOUR
T1 - Prevalence of and Factors Associated with Marital Distress among Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Survivors
T2 - Results from a Large Cross-Sectional Study
AU - Langer, Shelby L.
AU - Yi, Jean C.
AU - Syrjala, Karen L.
AU - Schoemans, Helene
AU - Mukherjee, Ahona
AU - Lee, Stephanie J.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 The American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy
PY - 2022/6
Y1 - 2022/6
N2 - The medical and psychological sequelae of hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) are well established, but less is known about the impact on intimate relationships. We sought to describe the prevalence of relationship distress among married HCT survivors and to identify factors associated with relationship distress. The study was cross-sectional. HCT survivors treated at a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center completed a survey that included measures of psychological and relationship distress (Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale [RDAS]), demographic, and medical factors. A total of 1047 respondents reported being married and completed the RDAS. Sample characteristics were a mean age of 58 years (range, 22 to 83 years), a mean interval post-HCT of 12.3 years (range, <1 to 43 years), 42% female, and 89% non-Hispanic white. RDAS total adjustment scores were comparable to published community sample values. Nineteen percent of the respondents were classified as relationship-distressed. Three factors were associated with greater odds of relationship distress: cancer and treatment distress (odds ratio [OR], 1.59; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09 to 2.31); depression (OR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.17 to 1.76), and time post-transplantation (OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.04). These findings were qualified by sex-stratified analyses. Depression was associated with relationship distress among females; the other 2 variables were associated with relationship distress among males. Our results paint an overall picture of positive long-term marital functioning among HCT survivors, with a subset reporting relationship distress. Screening is warranted to identify survivors at risk for relationship distress and to inform targeted intervention.
AB - The medical and psychological sequelae of hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) are well established, but less is known about the impact on intimate relationships. We sought to describe the prevalence of relationship distress among married HCT survivors and to identify factors associated with relationship distress. The study was cross-sectional. HCT survivors treated at a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center completed a survey that included measures of psychological and relationship distress (Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale [RDAS]), demographic, and medical factors. A total of 1047 respondents reported being married and completed the RDAS. Sample characteristics were a mean age of 58 years (range, 22 to 83 years), a mean interval post-HCT of 12.3 years (range, <1 to 43 years), 42% female, and 89% non-Hispanic white. RDAS total adjustment scores were comparable to published community sample values. Nineteen percent of the respondents were classified as relationship-distressed. Three factors were associated with greater odds of relationship distress: cancer and treatment distress (odds ratio [OR], 1.59; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09 to 2.31); depression (OR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.17 to 1.76), and time post-transplantation (OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.04). These findings were qualified by sex-stratified analyses. Depression was associated with relationship distress among females; the other 2 variables were associated with relationship distress among males. Our results paint an overall picture of positive long-term marital functioning among HCT survivors, with a subset reporting relationship distress. Screening is warranted to identify survivors at risk for relationship distress and to inform targeted intervention.
KW - Distress
KW - Dyadic adjustment
KW - Hematopoietic cell transplantation
KW - Marriage
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85131633543&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85131633543&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jtct.2022.03.008
DO - 10.1016/j.jtct.2022.03.008
M3 - Article
C2 - 35292391
AN - SCOPUS:85131633543
SN - 2666-6367
VL - 28
SP - 333.e1-333.e7
JO - Transplantation and Cellular Therapy
JF - Transplantation and Cellular Therapy
IS - 6
ER -