The relationship between type of mastectomy surgery and marital satisfaction and marital stress in women with breast cancer

Background. Breast cancer is still considered as one of the most important diseases, the most common cancer, and the second cause of death among women. It is necessary to evaluate the factors responsible for breast cancer (e.g., marital stress) since majority of the breast cancer cases in Iran are active young women hoping to live a normal social and sexual life, and because breast emptying has destructive effects on self-image and marital satisfaction. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the relationship between satisfaction and marital stress in mastectomy surgery. Methods. In this cross-sectional study, 120 married women with breast cancer were selected using available methods. The data were collected using a questionnaire with three parts including demographic questions, Enrich marital satisfaction, and Stockholm marital stress. Parametric tests and analysis of variance were used to analyze the data. Results. There was no significant relationship between marital satisfaction/marital stress and type of mastectomy surgery (P>0.01). Also, there was no significant relationship between marital satisfaction/marital stress and demographic variables (P>0.01). Conclusion. It was concluded that the marital satisfaction and marital stress had no significant relationship with the type of breast surgery. Practical Implications. Type of breast surgery had no effect on marital stress and satisfaction.