The Adaptive Role of Family Communication in Adjusting to Breast Cancer: A Socioemotional Selectivity Theoretical Perspective

• In Event: Navigating the cancer continuum

Abstract

Family communication is critical to cancer patients’ ability to adjust to the disease. Yet, patients’ family interaction is not integrated into quality cancer care. This study presents theoretically grounded research to encourage the health industry to expand its care. The communication partner preferences of over 300 healthy and diagnosed women in young adulthood, midlife, and later life were compared to provide a theoretical basis for examining kin interaction as central to health during cancer.

Authors

• Carla L. Fisher, Arizona State University

• Jon Nussbaum, Penn State University