Zhangyi Ding ¹ Yarong Fan ^2* Gaoxiang Zhong ¹ Xinmiao Zhang ^1* Xichen Li ^1* Yan Qiao ^1* Huixia Cui ^3*

• ¹ Department of Nursing, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, China
• ² School of Nursing, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China
• ³ School of Nursing, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, Anhui Province, China

Background：For breast cancer patients, the active coping of family members can help patients better cope with the crisis, and family adaptation is a manifestation of the family's active coping with the crisis. In the study of breast cancer, a female cancer with a high incidence, we explored the influence of spouses on patients' family adaptation. This was not explored in previous studies. Purpose: In recent years, with the development of family stress coping theory, cancer coping styles have shifted from the individual to a whole-family approach, which has the potential to help families of cancer patients adapt to the crisis. This study aimed to explore the correlation between dyadic coping, family adaptation, and benefit finding in couples with breast cancer. Methods：Using convenience sampling, the study encompassed 325 pairs of breast cancer patients and their spouses who attended breast surgery, oncology, and chemotherapy centers between April and November 2023. The survey utilized the patient and spouse General Information Questionnaire, the Dyadic Coping Scale, the Benefit Finding Scale, and the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS 25.0 and Amos 24.0 software. Results：In the actor effect of dyadic coping on family adaptation, the benefit finding of patients and their spouses played a mediating role. Regarding the partner effect (B = 0.019, 95% CI = 0.003-0.045, P < 0.05), the dyadic coping of spouses indirectly affected the family adaptation of patients through the benefit findings of patients. The patient's dyadic coping can directly affect the spouse's family adaptation. The spouse's dyadic coping can influence the patient's benefit finding. Conclusions：There is a partial interaction between breast cancer patients and their spouses' dyadic coping, benefit finding, and family adaptation. Therefore, clinical staff should timely identify patients and spouses with poor coping ability, and provide them with positive psychological intervention to enhance the dyadic coping ability between husband and wife, help them overcome the problems encountered in the treatment process, and better cope with family crises.