The relationship checkup for couples facing breast cancer: A case series design.

This study aimed to adapt and pilot the relationship checkup (RC) for young women and their partners undergoing active treatment for breast cancer, with the goal of assessing improvements in individual and relationship well-being.A case series design was utilized, following three couples from different parts of the world over the course of 1 year (2023)(2024).Each couple received two RC sessions 1 year apart.For each RC, study questionnaires were administered at baseline, immediately after the RC, and 1 month following the RC.Finally, the couples all participated in follow-up interviews approximately 1 month after their final RC. Results showed that all couples reported stable or improved relationship satisfaction and intimacy over the course of the study, with several partners reporting clinically reliable change.In addition, all but one participant reported decreases in depressive symptoms following the RC sessions, including two partners reporting clinically reliable change.Finally, all couples reported high satisfaction with the RC, appreciating its strengths-based approach, the new perspectives on their relationship, and the positive impact observed in a relatively short amount of time.The RC appears to be a promising approach for enhancing both relationship and individual functioning among young women and their partners facing the challenges of a breast cancer diagnosis.Future research should study larger and more diverse samples to more thoroughly assess the efficacy of the RC for couples facing cancer. Public Significance StatementThe present study provides preliminary evidence that a brief, strengths-based relationship checkup for couples facing cancer may be helpful in increasing the quality of intimate relationships for this particularly vulnerable population.This brief relationship intervention bridges the gap between receiving psychoeducational information from medical care teams and engaging in long-term tertiary couple therapy.The relationship checkup for couples facing cancer may therefore have the potential to strengthen and bolster the resilience of couples' most important relationships during acutely challenging times.