Couple's Coping with Cancer

[jfa...@gmail.com]

Dear Colleagues & Friends:
 
It is my pleasure to announce an upcoming online study titled: Couples Coping with Cancer.
 
Oftentimes, there is greater focus on the cancer patient than the couple as a whole during diagnosis and treatment for cancer. When in fact, the relationship itself is also threatened by a partner’s illness and relational resiliency is important to the physical and mental well-being of both partner’s affected. I have experienced in my work as a mental health professional and as a caregiver to a loved one with cancer.

This study examines the influence of interpersonal communication and supportive behaviors in couple’s coping with cancer as part of a dissertation for PhD in Clinical Psychology at the University of New Mexico.

Couple’s interested in the study will be initially screened by myself for inclusion into the study. Heterosexual couple’s currently cohabitating for at least 1 year or more may participate. Participation in the study requires one partner having had a cancer diagnosis in the last year for disease stage 1-3 (TNM staging) excluding stage 4, cancers of the brain and spinal cord, and cancers of the blood or bone marrow including lymphomas and leukemias. Participation also requires both partner’s consent and willing participation in separately filling out a one-time online questionnaire.

Interested participants may email me at jber...@unm.edu for more information and prescreening.

Potential participants that do not meet the inclusion criteria in the initial screening will be thanked for their interest and declined. Couples who are initially screened and go on to complete the questionnaire will be entered in a drawing to win one of ten cash prizes (1 - $75 gift card, 3 - $50 gift card, 6 - $25 Visa gift cards) dispensed within six months of participating.
Participation is completely voluntary and may be withdrawn at any time.
 
Please let me know if you have any interest or questions about this study.
 
Sincerely,

Jennifer Bernard, M.S.
Co-Investigator
Doctoral Candidate Clinical Psychology
University of New Mexico

Bruce W. Smith, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator
Associate Professor Psychology Department
University of New Mexico