Objective: Marriage is consistently associated with better health outcomes. Spouses' attempts to influence partners' lifestyle and general health behaviors may contribute to this effect, although partners may not be aware of this influence. Spousal worry of a cancer diagnosis
for an at-risk partner may factor into attempts to influence. An examination of spousal worry and influence on lifestyle choices, general health behaviors, and cancer screening adherence for partners at higher risk of colorectal cancer may shed light on spousal influence and partners' perceptions
of influence. Methods: A mixed-method design assessed cancer worry and spousal influence for risk-reducing behavior in first-degree relatives of colorectal cancer patients following personalized genetic counseling. Couples discussed current and future ways to reduce risk. Results:
Both the at-risk partner and the spouses had moderately high cancer worries. Spouses reported exerting influence for healthier behavior and cancer screening adherence but at-risk partners did not always recognize it. Qualitative data demonstrated partners' perceptions of spousal influence
toward better health decisions, and against better health decisions. Conclusions: Future research should examine how and when spouses choose to exert influence, type of influence, what strategies they use, and to what effect.
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Keywords:
CANCER;
COMMUNICATION;
DECISION-MAKING;
SOCIAL SUPPORT;
SPOUSAL INFLUENCE
Document Type: Research Article
Publication date:
May 1, 2019
More about this publication?
The American Journal of Health Behavior seeks to improve the quality of life through multidisciplinary health efforts in fostering a better understanding of the multidimensional nature of both individuals and social systems as they relate to health behaviors.
The Journal aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the impact of personal attributes, personality characteristics, behavior patterns, social structure, and processes on health maintenance, health restoration, and health improvement; to disseminate knowledge of holistic, multidisciplinary approaches to designing and implementing effective health programs; and to showcase health behavior analysis skills that have been proven to affect health improvement and recovery.
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