• Mariët Hagedoorn, Eli Puterman, Robbert Sanderman, Theo Wiggers, Peter C Baas, Michiel van Haastert, and Anita DeLongis.
• Department of Health Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
• Health Psychol. 2011 Nov 1;30(6):753-62.

ObjectiveThis study examined associations between the degree of self-disclosure and changes in depressive symptoms in couples coping with colorectal cancer.MethodSixty-four newly diagnosed patients and their partners completed a measure of depressive symptoms (Center of Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale) 3 and 9 months postdiagnosis. Furthermore, approximately 2 months after the first assessment, they engaged in a cancer-related conversation in which the patient was asked to introduce a concern. Each partner's verbalizations of emotions, thoughts, and wishes (i.e., self-disclosures) were coded by independent observers.ResultsPatients who reported more depressive symptoms at baseline showed more self-disclosures. Mutual self-disclosure was not associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms in patients and partners as compared with one-sided self-disclosure or low disclosure in both patients and partners. It is important to note that decreases in depressive symptoms over time were least prominent in couples in which the partner disclosed a lot whereas the patient disclosed little.ConclusionThese results suggest that mere disclosure of emotions and thoughts to one's intimate partner is not beneficial in reducing distress. Partners' self-disclosure toward patients who disclose few emotions and concerns even appears to be harmful both for patients and partners, given that it reduces the decrease of depressive symptoms over time. If there is a mismatch in the need for self-disclosure within couples, partners with a strong need to talk about their emotions and concerns may be recommended to confide in someone else in their social network or to consult a health care professional.PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved.

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