Communication and Support-Focused Experiences and Needs of Young Adult Couples Coping With Cancer: A Qualitative Study.

Abstract

Background: Cancer among young adult (YA) couples is a profoundly distressing experience, extracting a significant toll on YA couples' relationships (e.g., with partners, family, friends). It is well recognized that effective communication within social relationships is critical for fostering well-being among couples coping with cancer. Despite this, limited research exists focused on communication and support needs among YA couples.

Aims: Through qualitative semi-structured interviews, we explored the unique needs and experiences of YA couples with a focus on communication and support within their relationship and with their social support networks.

Methods: Fifteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with YA couples. YA survivors were eligible if they were diagnosed with cancer as a young adult (aged 18-39) within the past 5 years. Relevant themes in literature guided the development and use of semi-structured interview guides.

Results: Content-structuring qualitative analysis was used to identify themes. Across 15 YA couples, four main themes emerged: dyadic communication, dyadic relationship changes, social support network challenges and opportunities, and resource needs.

Conclusions: Results highlight YA couples' communication and support needs that are central, and external, to the couple. These findings elucidate how YA couples navigate the cancer experience together, highlighting experiences, needs, and concerns that are central to the developmentally off-time nature of cancer during their relationship. Additionally, results have implications for intervention development focused on communication and support among this vulnerable and underrepresented YA couple population.