Dyadic Interventions for LGBTQ+ Individuals Facing Cancer: A Narrative Review.

Abstract

Opinion statement: Dyadic interventions are uniquely positioned not only to improve psychosocial outcomes for those with cancer, but also to improve caregiver and relationship outcomes. Although dyadic interventions have demonstrated efficacy in reducing distress and improving quality of life among individuals with cancer and caregivers in the general population, their applicability to minoritized populations, such as LGBTQ + individuals, remains understudied. Adapting dyadic interventions may be particularly important for LGBTQ+ cancer survivors and their caregivers given that they face higher rates of psychological distress than their heterosexual and cisgender counterparts. In the absence of interventions created for LGBTQ+ dyads facing cancer, we rely on adjacent literature: studies focused on dyadic interventions for a broader population of those affected by cancer, as well as those addressing LGBTQ+ individuals outside the context of cancer. Together, this literature illustrates an opportunity to address the psychological distress faced by LGBTQ+ individuals through dyadic approaches. Given the identified gap in the literature, however, there is a need for new research to explore how dyadic interventions can improve psychological well-being among LGBTQ+ people facing cancer.