Table 1.
Participant characteristics.
| Patients (N = 138) | Life partners (N = 138) | |
|---|---|---|
| Age (mean) | 58.1 (SD = 13.19) | 58.51 (13.99) |
| Length of relationship (mean) | 30.32 (SD = 15.52) | |
| Gender | ||
| Female | 94 (68.1%) | 44 (31.9%) |
| Male | 44 (31.9%) | 94 (68.1%) |
| Marital status | ||
| Married | 121 (87.7%) | |
| Living together | 17 (12.3%) | |
| Educational level | ||
| Middle school | 22 (15.9%) | 27 (19.6%) |
| High school | 49 (35.5%) | 35 (25.4%) |
| Vocational school | 25 (18.1%) | 34 (24.6%) |
| First degree | 36 (26.1%) | 38 (27.5%) |
| Master’s | 6 (4.3%) | 2 (1.4%) |
| Doctorate | - | 2 (1.4%) |
| Occupational status | ||
| Employed | 38 (27.5%) | 49 (35.5%) |
| Unemployed | 5 (3.6%) | 6 (4.3%) |
| Businessman/woman | 3 (2.2%) | 3 (2.2%) |
| Retired | 92 (66.7%) | 79 (57.2%) |
| Type of cancer | ||
| Breast | 63 (45.7%) | |
| Gynaecological | 16 (11.6%) | |
| Prostate | 4 (2.9%) | |
| Gastro-intestinal | 11 (8%) | |
| Lung | 19 (13.8%) | |
| Head area | 6 (4.3%) | |
| Colon | 12 (8.7%) | |
| Pancreatic | 3 (2.2%) | |
| Other | 4 (2.9%) | |
| Current stage | ||
| I | 7 (5.1%) | |
| II | 38 (27.5%) | |
| III | 29 (21%) | |
| IV | 64 (46.4%) | |
| Previous treatment | ||
| Radiotherapy | 5 (3.6%) | |
| Chemotherapy | 11 (8%) | |
| Surgical | 23 (16.7%) | |
| Hormone therapy | 5 (3.6%) | |
| Several kinds of treatment | 85 (61.6%) | |
| No treatment | 9 (6.5) | |
| Current treatment | ||
| Radiotherapy | 5 (3.6%) | |
| Chemotherapy | 68 (49.3%) | |
| Surgical | 3 (2.2%) | |
| Hormone therapy | 52 (37.7%) | |
| Other | 10 (7.2%) | |
| Length of time since diagnosis (months) | 29.55 (SD = 33.94) | |
| Trajectory of the disease | ||
| New diagnosis | 64 (46.3%) | |
| Recurrence | 74 (53.7%) | |
| Family history of cancer | ||
| No | 103 (74.6%) | |
| Yes | 35 (25.4%) | |