Abstract
Background: Cancer is a major life event that imposes huge economic and mental burdens on patients and families. In addition, the diagnosis of cancer also causes significant family discordance that can lead to marital problems such as divorce or separation. The aim of this study was to investigate the association and any related gender differences between cancer diagnosis and marital disruption among cancer survivors. Materials and Methods: We used the recent cross-sectional Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (4th and 5th; Years 2008-2012). The study participants were 623 married cancer survivors over the age of 19. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to estimate odds ratios. Results: After adjusting for socioeconomic status and health-related behaviors, the odds ratio of marital disruption among female cancer survivors compared with male cancer survivors was 3.94 (95%CI 1.30-11.94; p=0.02). The odds ratio of marital disruption for the below-average economic level compared with the above-average economic level was 5.64 (95%CI: 1.03-31.02; p=0.05). When compared with the non-smoking cancer survivors, the smoking cancer survivors had an OR of marital disruption equal to 2.94 (95%CI: 1.08-8.00; p=0.03). Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest that the odds of marital disruption among female cancer survivors are higher than those among their male couterparts. Medical practitioners should be sensitive to early signs of marital discord in couples affected by a cancer diagnosis. Early identification and psychosocial intervention might reduce the frequency of divorce and separation and thus improve quality of life and quality of care for cancer survivors.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 6547-6552 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention |
| Volume | 15 |
| Issue number | 16 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2014 Jan 1 |
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All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Epidemiology
- Oncology
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
- Cancer Research
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Gender differences in marital disruption among patients with cancer : Results from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). / Song, Hai Yan; Kwon, Jeoung A.; Choi, Jae Woo; Kim, Sun Jung; Park, Euncheol.
In: Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, Vol. 15, No. 16, 01.01.2014, p. 6547-6552.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Gender differences in marital disruption among patients with cancer
T2 - Results from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES)
AU - Song, Hai Yan
AU - Kwon, Jeoung A.
AU - Choi, Jae Woo
AU - Kim, Sun Jung
AU - Park, Euncheol
PY - 2014/1/1
Y1 - 2014/1/1
N2 - Background: Cancer is a major life event that imposes huge economic and mental burdens on patients and families. In addition, the diagnosis of cancer also causes significant family discordance that can lead to marital problems such as divorce or separation. The aim of this study was to investigate the association and any related gender differences between cancer diagnosis and marital disruption among cancer survivors. Materials and Methods: We used the recent cross-sectional Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (4th and 5th; Years 2008-2012). The study participants were 623 married cancer survivors over the age of 19. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to estimate odds ratios. Results: After adjusting for socioeconomic status and health-related behaviors, the odds ratio of marital disruption among female cancer survivors compared with male cancer survivors was 3.94 (95%CI 1.30-11.94; p=0.02). The odds ratio of marital disruption for the below-average economic level compared with the above-average economic level was 5.64 (95%CI: 1.03-31.02; p=0.05). When compared with the non-smoking cancer survivors, the smoking cancer survivors had an OR of marital disruption equal to 2.94 (95%CI: 1.08-8.00; p=0.03). Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest that the odds of marital disruption among female cancer survivors are higher than those among their male couterparts. Medical practitioners should be sensitive to early signs of marital discord in couples affected by a cancer diagnosis. Early identification and psychosocial intervention might reduce the frequency of divorce and separation and thus improve quality of life and quality of care for cancer survivors.
AB - Background: Cancer is a major life event that imposes huge economic and mental burdens on patients and families. In addition, the diagnosis of cancer also causes significant family discordance that can lead to marital problems such as divorce or separation. The aim of this study was to investigate the association and any related gender differences between cancer diagnosis and marital disruption among cancer survivors. Materials and Methods: We used the recent cross-sectional Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (4th and 5th; Years 2008-2012). The study participants were 623 married cancer survivors over the age of 19. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to estimate odds ratios. Results: After adjusting for socioeconomic status and health-related behaviors, the odds ratio of marital disruption among female cancer survivors compared with male cancer survivors was 3.94 (95%CI 1.30-11.94; p=0.02). The odds ratio of marital disruption for the below-average economic level compared with the above-average economic level was 5.64 (95%CI: 1.03-31.02; p=0.05). When compared with the non-smoking cancer survivors, the smoking cancer survivors had an OR of marital disruption equal to 2.94 (95%CI: 1.08-8.00; p=0.03). Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest that the odds of marital disruption among female cancer survivors are higher than those among their male couterparts. Medical practitioners should be sensitive to early signs of marital discord in couples affected by a cancer diagnosis. Early identification and psychosocial intervention might reduce the frequency of divorce and separation and thus improve quality of life and quality of care for cancer survivors.
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U2 - 10.7314/APJCP.2014.15.16.6547
DO - 10.7314/APJCP.2014.15.16.6547
M3 - Article
VL - 15
SP - 6547
EP - 6552
JO - Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
JF - Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
SN - 1513-7368
IS - 16
ER -