Couples and Cancer 1
Appendix 1
Behavioral Observation
At the pre-treatment, post-treatment, and 12-month follow-up evaluations, each couple engaged in two, 7-minute cancer-related conversations that were videotaped for later coding to assess communication and dyadic processes as an additional method beyond self-report. The interactions focused on communicating feelings related to the cancer between partners. In one 7-minute interaction, the patient shared her thoughts, feelings, and concerns about some aspect of her cancer, and her male partner responded as he typically would. Analogously, in the other 7-minute interaction, the man shared his thoughts, feelings, and concerns about the patient’s cancer, and the patient responded as she typically would. The two interaction tasks were conducted in random order.
The interactions were then coded using Cutrona’s Social Support Behavior Code (SSBC; [1]), which is the most frequently used observational measure of social support. The SSBC yields a count of the number of times several different types of social support (emotional, esteem, information and tangible support) are provided by the listener to the discloser. Intraclass correlations for the domains of support have been found to range from .73 to .95 [2], and behavioral ratings have been found to be highly associated with other measures of social support (r =.71 to .79; [3]). Three research assistants, who were blind to the hypotheses and the timing of the administration (i.e., pre, post, follow-up), were trained in the coding system and rated the conversations.
For the purpose of the present study, we combined scores from the following types of support: emotional and esteem support (for “nurturance support”) and information and tangible support (for “instrumental support”). There was no significant change involving time and group in social support categories of nurturance or instrumental support in behavioral observation data (for means and statistical details see Tables 2 and 3 in the printed article).
References
1. Cutrona CE, Suhr JA. Controllability of stressful events and satisfaction with spouse support behaviors. Com Res. 1992; 19: 154-174.
2. Cutrona CE, Hessling RM, Suhr JA. The influence of husband and wife personality on marital social support interactions. Pers Rel. 1997; 4: 379-393.
3. Cutrona CE, Suhr JA, MacFarlane R. Interpersonal transaction and the psychological sense of support. In: Duck S, ed. Personal Relation and Social Support, London: Sage; 1990: 30-45.