FINANCIAL STRESS, COMMUNICATION AND SUBJECTIVE WELL-BEING: SCOPE REVIEW IN COUPLES WITH CANCER

Cancer represents a significant challenge for patients and their spouses, impacting emotional, social, and financial spheres. The aim of this scoping review was to analyze, in light of the scientific literature, how financial stress, marital communication, and subjective well-being are interrelated, seeking to map evidence and identify gaps for future research. This qualitative review, guided by the deductive method, followed the PRISMA-ScR guidelines and was based on a research question structured with the PCC mnemonic (Population: couples; Concept: financial stress, marital communication, subjective well-being; Context: coping with cancer). Searches were conducted between January and December 2024 in databases such as PubMed, CAPES Journals Portal, Annual Reviews, PsycInfo, SciELO, and Scopus. After screening and duplicate removal, 12 studies were included in the final sample. Data were extracted using a standardized form and analyzed descriptively, organized into tables and narratives. The results highlighted that financial stress reduces marital satisfaction and psychological health, but can be mitigated through financial support strategies and education. Congruent communication patterns were associated with better emotional and relational outcomes, whereas avoidant patterns intensified conflicts. Subjective well-being emerged as an essential mediator, strengthening marital adaptability through empathy and dyadic coping. Despite these contributions, gaps remain regarding diverse family arrangements and cultural contexts. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that financial stress is one of the greatest challenges, directly affecting couples’ mental health. Effective communication patterns were associated with better emotional and relational outcomes, while subjective well-being emerged as a central factor in dyadic coping.