Comparison of couples' adjustment to lumpectomy and mastectomy☆

Abstract The personality and family relations as well as the adjustment of 32 postlumpectomy women was compared to 32 postmastectomy women matched in terms of age and education, as well as time since the operation and postoperative treatment. Whenever possible the husbands were also included in the study. There were practically no differences on any of the adjustment measures between the two groups of women and the two groups of husbands. Some differences were found between the postlumpectomy and the postmastectomy groups in their perception of family relations. The expected differences in terms of personality were not found.