Abstract: Objective: To understand the coping experience of young and middle-aged lymphoma patients and their spouses during the course of disease, and to identify the problems to provide targeted interventions. Methods: Phenomenological approach in qualitative research was used in the study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 pairs of young and middle-aged lymphoma patients and their spouses. The interview data were analyzed by Colaizzi phenomenological methodology. Results: The disease coping experience of young and middle-aged lymphoma patients and their spouses can be summarized into three themes: negative dyadic coping and disease information needs after diagnosis; positive dyadic coping during the treatment period; many factors affect dyadic coping. Conclusion: Couples with lymphoma patients have serious psychological problems. Worries about family, uncertainty of disease, concealment between couples during the course of disease are not conducive to disease adaptation. Understanding the coping experience of young and middle-aged lymphoma patients and their spouses can provide theoretical basis for targeted interventions.

Key words: dyadic coping; lymphoma; disease experience; qualitative research