Xiao-feng Chen,1,2 Chen Shen,1– 3 Zhi-feng Gu,2,4 Chen Dong,2,4 Yuan Zhuang,1 Li-hua Lu,1 Ping Lu,1 Yi-ju Li1 

1Department of Nursing, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226001, People’s Republic of China; 2Medical School (Nursing School), Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226001, People’s Republic of China; 3Research Center of Nursing, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226001, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Rheumatology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226001, People’s Republic of China

Correspondence: Chen Shen, Department of Nursing, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226001, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86-513-81162298, Email koala2005@ntu.edu.cn Zhi-feng Gu, Department of Rheumatology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226001, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86-513-81160152, Email guzf@ntu.edu.cn

Objective: The aim of this study is to assess the latent profile types of marital adjustment in patients with breast cancer and to analyze the factors influencing these various profiles.
Methods: Patients with breast cancer who visited the Breast Surgery Department from January to June 2023 were selected using convenience sampling. These patients were surveyed using a general data questionnaire, the Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale (RDAS), the Interpersonal Reactivity Index-C (IRI-C), and the Emotional Regulation Self-Efficacy Scale (RESS). Latent profile analysis (LPA) was used to determine different types of marital adjustment among patients, and influencing factors for the various profiles were identified through univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis.
Results: Marital adjustment in patients with breast cancer was categorized into three latent profiles: the “low marital adjustment-low cohesion group” (20.2%), the “midlevel marital adjustment group” (35.3%), and the “high marital adjustment-satisfaction group” (44.4%). The influencing factors included age, marital status, primary caregiver, type of surgical intervention, empathy, and emotional regulation self-efficacy (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: The marital adjustment levels of patients with breast cancer exhibited significant heterogeneity. Medical staff can implement targeted interventions based on the distinct characteristics of each marital adjustment profile, thereby enhancing the marital adjustment of these patients.

Keywords: breast cancer, emotional regulation self-efficacy, empathy, influencing factors, latent profile analysis, marital adjustment