Couples’ experiences of spousal caregiving for women with breast cancer: a frame analysis

The findings show that the interpretive frames of women with breast cancer are person-oriented, whereas that of their male spouses is task-oriented. The disparity between patients and their spouses in evaluating spousal caregiving experiences may be a reason for patients perceiving their needs to be unmet. Recognizing and reflecting on the other person's appraisal frames can facilitate dyadic coping.