Abstract

As the rate of survivorship continues to increase within oncological care (White, 2007), more attention is being focused on the quality of life and long-term outcomes of cancer survivors (American Cancer Society, 2014). Sexual quality of life (SQOL), which includes both sex and intimacy, have been identified as primary sources of stress among patients and their partners across cancer types (Manne & Badr, 2008; 2010; Manne, Badr, & Kashy, 2012); however, reproductively related cancers, such as breast and gynecologic cancers have especially posed unique challenges to both patients and their partners (Jonsdottir, et al., 2016). It is widely known that cancer has historically been researched through a medically dominated lens, in which psychosocial issues such as SQOL are either studied through a biological approach, or completely neglected altogether. Further, literature has continued to find that partners of patients have been correlated in predicating patient psychological adjustment outcomes (Jonsdottir, Jonsdottir, & Klinke, 2018; Traa et al., 2014); however, dyadic analyses, in which both patients and partners are studied as a unit, are virtually non-existent. Through the utilization of Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis, while being informed by both Symbolic Interactionism and the Biopsychosocial-spiritual Model as guiding frameworks, this study seeks to answer the question: “What practices are couples utilizing in negotiating sex and intimacy amidst a cancer diagnosis?” This dissertation aims to gain holistic understandings and authentic accounts of participant’s lived experiences enduring SQOL negotiations amidst a reproductively related cancer diagnosis. Implications are discussed for three audiences: future couples, integrated healthcare teams, and marriage and family therapists.

LLU Discipline

Systems, Families, and Couples

Department

Counseling and Family Sciences

School

School of Behavioral Health

First Advisor

Jacqueline M. Williams-Reade

Second Advisor

Rose Hartzell-Cushanick

Third Advisor

Lena Lopez-Bradley

Fourth Advisor

Winetta Oloo

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Degree Level

Ph.D.

Year Degree Awarded

2019

Date (Title Page)

3-2019

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Quality of Life; Sexuality; Survivorship; Neoplasms

Type

Dissertation

Page Count

xiii, 138 p.

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

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