Highlights
- •Patients with acute leukemia and their spouses may resort to positive dyadic coping.
- •Tailored interventions to improve dyadic coping should be developed.
- •Couple-based interventions can focus on optimizing positive couple experiences.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aimed to explore the positive experiences of dyadic coping between patients
with acute leukemia and their spouses in China, and to highlight the target factors
that could promote coping and adaptation.
Methods
A qualitative descriptive study was employed. This study was conducted at a tertiary
hospital in China from September 2021 to February 2022. A purposive sampling method
was used to select participants, and 17 patients diagnosed with acute leukemia and
their spouses were interviewed. Qualitative data were analyzed using the content analysis
method. This study followed the COREQ checklist.
Results
This study's data were categorized into five themes and twelve subthemes: (1) adapting
to a new role—couples used role adjustments to adapt; (2) commitment to companionship—patients
benefit from spousal commitment in word or in deed; (3) active communication—allows
couples to get to know each other better; (4) white lies—shield partner from negative
information; (5) seeking external support—outside of couple cohesion. In sum, positive
dyadic coping experiences between couples follow the marital commitment of “never
forsake.”
Conclusions
This study contributes new knowledge to the understanding of the dyadic coping experiences
of patients with acute leukemia and their spouses within the Chinese social-cultural
context and contributes to cross-cultural comparisons. The results can be used to
design and implement couple-based intervention programs to support couples by enhancing
their mutual support to cope with and adjust to acute leukemia effectively.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: December 22, 2022
Accepted:
December 15,
2022
Received in revised form:
November 26,
2022
Received:
September 27,
2022
Identification
Copyright
© 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
