Interpersonal Communication and Psychosocial Adjustment

AbstractCancer patients receiving radiation therapy (N = 102) were interviewed to obtain self-report data concerning the relationships between patient-family communication and psychosocia1 adjustment to illness. Psychosocial adjustment was tapped with the Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale. Data analysis revealed that interactions with family members were important in determining whether a patient had adjusted effectively. Multiple discriminant analysis procedures revealed that frequency of interactions and emotional support provided in the interactions were important discriminating variables of effective adjustment. Surprisingly, honesty and discussion of unpleasant topics were not identified as important discriminating variables. The data suggested that communicating with significant others about the disease in an emotionally supportive environment was conducive to effective adjustment.