Coping with Breast Cancer across Adulthood: Emotional Support Communication in the Mother–Daughter Bond

Women diagnosed with breast cancer encounter traumatic changes and their ability to cope is tied to support they receive from their families. Women describe the mother–daughter relationship as a significant potential source of this support. Forty diagnosed women in young, middle, and later adulthood and 38 of their mothers/daughters were interviewed to capture how communication functioned both adaptively and maladaptively in their adjustment. Findings highlight differences in women's communication preferences related to development.