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Grant Details

Grant Number: 2R01CA201179-06A1 Interpret this number
Primary Investigator: Langer, Shelby
Organization: Arizona State University-Tempe Campus
Project Title: Couple Communication in Cancer: a Multi-Method Examination - Renewal - 1
Fiscal Year: 2024


Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY For persons with cancer and their intimate partners, the ability to communicate effectively about cancer-related issues impacts the adjustment of both individuals and their relationships. However, the vast majority of research on couple communication in cancer has been limited by reliance on global self-report measures of communication that focus on a single dimension of communication behavior (e.g., disclosure versus avoidance) without consideration of other potentially important processes such as emotional arousal, the quality of emotions expressed, and sequences and trajectories of communication behaviors. This narrow focus has prohibited advancements in our understanding of communication processes which, in turn, limits efforts to develop efficacious interventions and target them to couples most at risk of poor adjustment. The proposed study will address these limitations by leveraging a large longitudinal, multi-method dataset we collected among 353 couples coping with stage II-IV breast, colon, rectal, and lung cancer (R01 CA201179). Participants completed global self-report measures of communication four times over a one-year period; twice-daily ecological momentary assessments (EMA) over two weeks; and audio- and video-recorded couple conversations of cancer-related topics from which we coded affective expressions and communicative behaviors and obtained data on fundamental frequency, a novel objective indicator of vocally expressed emotional arousal. Preliminary results provided support for two theories of couple communication in cancer (Social Cognitive Processing and Relationship Intimacy) and underscored the utility of different indicators of communication in predicting adjustment. While these findings are promising, our original aims and methods relied on single indicators of communication in isolation, and thus did not fully capitalize on the integrative potential of the dataset. Recent advances in relationship science suggest that the integration of self-report, behavioral, and fundamental frequency data can provide a richer and more sophisticated picture of communication processes and their impacts on intra- and interpersonal outcomes. This in turn can inform the development of more targeted and efficacious interventions. Specific aims of this proposal are: (1) To identify communication profiles of couples based on EMA and observational data. (2) To examine the predictive relationship of these communication profiles to outcomes including patient and partner psychological adjustment, relational functioning, and physical and functional well-being collected at the 12-month follow up. (3a) To develop, using machine learning, a brief self-report screening tool that will identify couples most at risk for poor outcomes based on the communication profiles developed and tested in Aims 1-2. (3b) To concurrently and prospectively validate this brief screening tool in a new sample of 270 couples (patients with stage II-IV breast, colorectal, or lung cancer and their partners). (3c) To identify facilitators and barriers to implementation of the screener in a clinical setting. The goal is development of an efficient, empirically-derived measure that can be administered to patients and partners in real-world clinical settings.



Publications

Parenting Concerns, Psychological Distress, and Relationship Adjustment Among Patients With Cancer and Their Partners: A Longitudinal Study.
Authors: Leo K. , Langer S.L. , McDaniel H. , Baucom B.R.W. , Keefe F. , Ramos K. , Lee D.J. , Porter L.S. .
Source: Psycho-oncology, 2025 Jan; 34(1), p. e70057.
PMID: 39763106
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Couples communication and cancer: Sequences and trajectories of behavioral affective processes in relation to intimacy.
Authors: Leo K. , Langer S.L. , Porter L.S. , Ramos K. , Romano J.M. , Baucom D.H. , Baucom B.R.W. .
Source: Journal Of Family Psychology : Jfp : Journal Of The Division Of Family Psychology Of The American Psychological Association (division 43), 2024 Mar; 38(2), p. 246-259.
EPub date: 2023-12-21 00:00:00.0.
PMID: 38127494
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Knowledge, goals, and misperceptions about palliative care in adults with chronic disease or cancer.
Authors: Ramos K. , Kaufman B.G. , Winger J.G. , Boggins A. , Van Houtven C.H. , Porter L.S. , Hastings S.N. .
Source: Palliative & Supportive Care, 2023-08-10 00:00:00.0; , p. 1-7.
EPub date: 2023-08-10 00:00:00.0.
PMID: 37559194
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Concurrent and Prospective Associations Between Communicated Emotional Arousal and Adjustment Among Couples Coping With Cancer.
Authors: Weber D.M. , Baucom B.R.W. , Baucom D.H. , Fischer M.S. , Ramos K. , Romano J.M. , Porter L.S. , Langer S.L. .
Source: Annals Of Behavioral Medicine : A Publication Of The Society Of Behavioral Medicine, 2023-05-13 00:00:00.0; , .
EPub date: 2023-05-13 00:00:00.0.
PMID: 37178456
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Attachment in Couples Coping with Cancer: Associations with Observed Communication and Long-Term Health.
Authors: Ramos K. , Leo K. , Porter L.S. , Romano J.M. , Baucom B.R.W. , Langer S.L. .
Source: International Journal Of Environmental Research And Public Health, 2023-03-24 00:00:00.0; 20(7), .
EPub date: 2023-03-24 00:00:00.0.
PMID: 37047865
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Prevalence of and Factors Associated with Marital Distress among Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Survivors: Results from a Large Cross-Sectional Study.
Authors: Langer S.L. , Yi J.C. , Syrjala K.L. , Schoemans H. , Mukherjee A. , Lee S.J. .
Source: Transplantation And Cellular Therapy, 2022 Jun; 28(6), p. 333.e1-333.e7.
EPub date: 2022-03-12 00:00:00.0.
PMID: 35292391
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Cultural adaptation of meaning-centered psychotherapy for latino families: a protocol.
Authors: Torres Blasco N. , Costas Muñiz R. , Zamore C. , Porter L. , Claros M. , Bernal G. , Shen M.J. , Breitbart W. , Castro E.M. .
Source: Bmj Open, 2022-04-04 00:00:00.0; 12(4), p. e045487.
EPub date: 2022-04-04 00:00:00.0.
PMID: 35379609
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Effectiveness of Quality Improvement Coaching on Process Outcomes in Health Care Settings: A Systematic Review.
Authors: Ballengee L.A. , Rushton S. , Lewinski A.A. , Hwang S. , Zullig L.L. , Ricks K.A.B. , Ramos K. , Brahmajothi M.V. , Moore T.S. , Blalock D.V. , et al. .
Source: Journal Of General Internal Medicine, 2022-01-03 00:00:00.0; , .
EPub date: 2022-01-03 00:00:00.0.
PMID: 34981354
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Recruitment and retention of underrepresented and vulnerable populations to research.
Authors: Langer S.L. , Castro F.G. , Chen A.C. , Davis K.C. , Joseph R.P. , Kim W.S. , Larkey L. , Lee R.E. , Petrov M.E. , Reifsnider E. , et al. .
Source: Public Health Nursing (boston, Mass.), 2021-07-08 00:00:00.0; , .
EPub date: 2021-07-08 00:00:00.0.
PMID: 34240459
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Caregiver-guided pain coping skills training for patients with advanced cancer: Results from a randomized clinical trial.
Authors: Porter L.S. , Steel J.L. , Fairclough D.L. , LeBlanc T.W. , Bull J. , Hanson L.C. , Fischer S. , Keefe F.J. .
Source: Palliative Medicine, 2021 May; 35(5), p. 952-961.
EPub date: 2021-03-29 00:00:00.0.
PMID: 33775175
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Couple Communication in Cancer: Protocol for a Multi-Method Examination.
Authors: Langer S.L. , Romano J.M. , Keefe F. , Baucom D.H. , Strauman T. , Syrjala K.L. , Bolger N. , Burns J. , Bricker J.B. , Todd M. , et al. .
Source: Frontiers In Psychology, 2021; 12, p. 769407.
EPub date: 2022-02-07 00:00:00.0.
PMID: 35222142
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Sexual functioning in long-term survivors of hematopoietic cell transplantation.
Authors: Syrjala K.L. , Schoemans H. , Yi J.C. , Langer S.L. , Mukherjee A. , Onstad L. , Lee S.J. .
Source: Biology Of Blood And Marrow Transplantation : Journal Of The American Society For Blood And Marrow Transplantation, 2020-09-29 00:00:00.0; , .
EPub date: 2020-09-29 00:00:00.0.
PMID: 33002641
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Attachment Style, Partner Communication, and Physical Well-Being among Couples Coping with Cancer.
Authors: Ramos K. , Langer S.L. , Todd M. , Romano J.M. , Ghosh N. , Keefe F.J. , Baucom D.H. , Syrjala K.L. , Porter L.S. .
Source: Personal Relationships, 2020 Sep; 27(3), p. 526-549.
EPub date: 2020-09-07 00:00:00.0.
PMID: 38094308
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Usability and Acceptability of a Smartphone App to Assess Partner Communication, Closeness, Mood, and Relationship Satisfaction: Mixed Methods Study.
Authors: Langer S.L. , Ghosh N. , Todd M. , Randall A.K. , Romano J.M. , Bricker J.B. , Bolger N. , Burns J.W. , Hagan R.C. , Porter L.S. .
Source: Jmir Formative Research, 2020-07-06 00:00:00.0; 4(7), p. e14161.
EPub date: 2020-07-06 00:00:00.0.
PMID: 32628614
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Risk factors for cancer-related distress in colorectal cancer survivors: one year post surgery.
Authors: Han C.J. , Gigic B. , Schneider M. , Kulu Y. , Peoples A.R. , Ose J. , Kölsch T. , Jacobsen P.B. , Colditz G.A. , Figueiredo J.C. , et al. .
Source: Journal Of Cancer Survivorship : Research And Practice, 2020-03-12 00:00:00.0; , .
EPub date: 2020-03-12 00:00:00.0.
PMID: 32166576
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Key considerations for advancing the development and testing of mHealth interventions in adolescent and young adult oncology.
Authors: Walsh C.A. , Rosenberg A.R. , Lau N. , Syrjala K.L. .
Source: Psycho-oncology, 2019-09-02 00:00:00.0; , .
EPub date: 2019-09-02 00:00:00.0.
PMID: 31475768
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Lasting effects of cancer and its treatment on employment and finances in adolescent and young adult cancer survivors.
Authors: Ketterl T.G. , Syrjala K.L. , Casillas J. , Jacobs L.A. , Palmer S.C. , McCabe M.S. , Ganz P.A. , Overholser L. , Partridge A. , Rajotte E.J. , et al. .
Source: Cancer, 2019-06-01 00:00:00.0; 125(11), p. 1908-1917.
EPub date: 2019-02-01 00:00:00.0.
PMID: 30707763
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Caregiver-guided pain coping skills training for patients with advanced cancer: Background, design, and challenges for the CaringPals study.
Authors: Porter L.S. , Samsa G. , Steel J.L. , Hanson L.C. , LeBlanc T.W. , Bull J. , Fischer S. , Keefe F.J. .
Source: Clinical Trials (london, England), 2019 Jun; 16(3), p. 263-272.
EPub date: 2019-02-19 00:00:00.0.
PMID: 30782014
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Indices of pain variability: a paradigm shift.
Authors: Winger J.G. , Plumb Vilardaga J.C. , Keefe F.J. .
Source: Pain, 2019-05-22 00:00:00.0; , .
EPub date: 2019-05-22 00:00:00.0.
PMID: 31145216
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Parenting a child with cancer: a couple-based approach.
Authors: Porter L.S. , Baucom D.H. , Bonner M. , Linardic C. , Kazak A.E. .
Source: Translational Behavioral Medicine, 2019-05-16 00:00:00.0; 9(3), p. 504-513.
PMID: 31094434
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Long-term complications in adolescent and young adult leukemia survivors.
Authors: Baker K.S. , Syrjala K.L. .
Source: Hematology. American Society Of Hematology. Education Program, 2018-11-30 00:00:00.0; 2018(1), p. 146-153.
PMID: 30504303
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Pilot randomized trial of a couple-based physical activity videoconference intervention for sedentary cancer survivors.
Authors: Porter L.S. , Gao X. , Lyna P. , Kraus W. , Olsen M. , Patterson E. , Puleo B. , Pollak K.I. .
Source: Health Psychology : Official Journal Of The Division Of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association, 2018 Sep; 37(9), p. 861-865.
PMID: 30138021
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Themes Addressed by Couples With Advanced Cancer During a Communication Skills Training Intervention.
Authors: Porter L.S. , Fish L. , Steinhauser K. .
Source: Journal Of Pain And Symptom Management, 2018 Aug; 56(2), p. 252-258.
EPub date: 2018-04-26 00:00:00.0.
PMID: 29704618
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Couple-based communication interventions for cancer: moving beyond a 'one size fits all' approach.
Authors: Porter L.S. , Keefe F.J. .
Source: Acta Oncologica (stockholm, Sweden), 2018 05; 57(5), p. 693-695.
EPub date: 2017-12-08 00:00:00.0.
PMID: 29219014
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Links Between Communication and Relationship Satisfaction Among Patients With Cancer and Their Spouses: Results of a Fourteen-Day Smartphone-Based Ecological Momentary Assessment Study.
Authors: Langer S.L. , Romano J.M. , Todd M. , Strauman T.J. , Keefe F.J. , Syrjala K.L. , Bricker J.B. , Ghosh N. , Burns J.W. , Bolger N. , et al. .
Source: Frontiers In Psychology, 2018; 9, p. 1843.
EPub date: 2018-10-10 00:00:00.0.
PMID: 30364167
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A randomized pilot trial of a videoconference couples communication intervention for advanced GI cancer.
Authors: Porter L.S. , Keefe F.J. , Baucom D.H. , Olsen M. , Zafar S.Y. , Uronis H. .
Source: Psycho-oncology, 2017 Jul; 26(7), p. 1027-1035.
EPub date: 2016-03-08 00:00:00.0.
PMID: 28691761
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Supporting cancer family caregivers: How can frontline oncology clinicians help?
Authors: Porter L.S. , Dionne-Odom J.N. .
Source: Cancer, 2017-05-02 00:00:00.0; , .
EPub date: 2017-05-02 00:00:00.0.
PMID: 28464219
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