The role of partner support for health behaviours in people living with and beyond cancer: A qualitative study

Objective: This study aimed to qualitatively explore how partner support for health behaviours is perceived, received, and utilised in people living with and beyond cancer (LWBC).

Methods: Semi-structured audio interviews were conducted with 24 participants, 15 men and nine women, living with and beyond breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer. Inductive and deductive Thematic Analysis was used to analyse the data.

Results: Three key themes with six subthemes were identified relating to partner support for health behaviours: (1) Interdependence (Reciprocity, Overt Control, Influence & Motivation) (2) Concordance (Shared Attitudes & Health Beliefs, Shared Health Behaviour) and (3) Communal Coping (Communal Orientation towards Health and Decision Making, Co-operative Action in Health Behaviour).

Conclusions: Partner support plays a unique and significant role in the health behaviours of people LWBC. Partners play a collaborative role in managing health and facilitating health behaviours, while the high level of concordance in couples may represent a potential barrier to change via the reinforcement of maladaptive health beliefs and behaviours.

Implications for cancer survivors: Overall, findings demonstrate that partners should be considered and included where possible when designing future behaviour change interventions for people LWBC.