J Korean Gerontol Nurs.  2021 Nov;23(4):333-341. 10.17079/jkgn.2021.23.4.333.

Influence of Marital Communication on Cancer Coping, Health Promoting Behavior, and Subjective Happiness in Elderly Cancer Patients

• Shin K

• KMID: 2540570
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.17079/jkgn.2021.23.4.333

Abstract

Purpose
This study examined the effect of marital communication on cancer coping, health promoting behavior, and subjective happiness in elderly cancer patients.
Methods
The participants were 88 older patients with cancer living with a spouse for at least one year. Data collected through a questionnaire covering general characteristics, marital communications, cancer coping, health promoting behavior, and subjective happiness were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation, and a simple linear regression test using the SPSS 26.0.
Results
Marital communications showed a positive correlation with cancer coping (r=.54, p<.001), health promoting behavior (r=.47, p<.001), and subjective happiness (r=.46, p<.001). Positive marital communications had the greatest influence on cancer coping (β=.54, p<.001).
Conclusion
The findings suggest that developing nursing interventions that can enhance marital communications between older patients with cancer and their spouses could improve their quality of living.

Keyword

노인; 암; 환자; 부부; 의사소통; Aged; Neoplasms; Patients; Marital status; Communication