Pain Congruence in Couples with Cancer: Examining the Role of Age and Biopsychosocial Correlates

Using Gauthier’s and Gagliese’s biopsychosocial model as a framework, the present study examined age-related patterns in pain severity and interference congruence in younger and older couples. 59 patients with cancer and their spouse-caregivers (SCs) completed biopsychosocial measures and rated their pain experiences using the Brief Pain Inventory. SCs also rated their partner’s pain. Younger (YC; patient < 60 years old) and older (OC; patient ≥ 60 years old) couples did not differ on pain severity or interference congruence; however, correlates associated with each outcome differed by age group, with many being relational and psychosocial factors. This is the first study to simultaneously examine multiple biological, psychological, and relational correlates in two different pain congruence outcomes separately in younger and older couples. Our findings support Gauthier and Gagliese’s model and highlight the importance of age-tailored pain communication strategies in supporting couples coping with cancer pain.