Our intervention research focuses on testing and evaluating programs that address the needs of both members of the care dyad as they navigate a health challenge or illness. Our dyadic interventions are theoretically and empirically informed, leveraging the strengths of the dyad to improve health and well-being outcomes for both the adult with chronic illness and their care partner.

1. The Taking Care of Us (TCU) Program

[The TCU program] brought us closer together (male participant).

[We learned] about what we can do to help each other and

support each other (female participant)

The TCU program was developed by Dr. Lyons to support couples that are navigating a chronic illness together and strengthen dyadic illness management skills within the couple. The TCU program was initially tested with couples living with heart failure in a study funded by the National Institute on Aging (R21 AG068715; MPIs: Lyons/Lee). The program was highly rated by couples, and we found promising results for improvements in the physical and mental health of both the adult with heart failure and their spouse/partner. Based on these results and helpful feedback from our participants, we are currently revising the program for an upcoming study.

Primary Results of the TCU Program

 Lyons, K. S., Whitlatch, C. J., Vest, A. R., Upshaw, J. N., Hutton Johnson, S., Walters, A., & Lee, C. S. (2025). Feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of the Taking Care of Us© intervention for couples living with heart failure. Innovation in Aging, 9(1), igae106.

2. Parkinson’s Disease

We have also tested a self-management program in couples living with Parkinson’s disease funded by the Parkinson’s Center of Oregon (MPIs: Lyons/Carter). Initial results found improvements in mental health and illness management behaviors.

Primary Results of the Study

 Lyons, K. S., Zajack, A., Greer, M., Chaimoy, H., Dieckmann, N. F., & Carter, J. H. (2021). Benefits of a self-management program for the couple living with Parkinson’s disease: A pilot study. Journal of Applied Gerontology,

40(8), 881-889.

Dyadic Benefits of the Study Using Novel Approach

 Lyons, K. S., Russell, L. T., Bonds Johnson, K., Brewster, G. S., Carter, J. H., &

Miller, L. M. (2024). Evaluating the Dyadic Benefits of Early-Phase Behavioral Interventions: An Exemplar Using Data from Couples Living with Parkinson’s Disease. The Gerontologist, 64(7), gnad172.

1. Cancer

“Cancer took over my life; therefore, it took over my partner's life.” (Study Participant)

Our team has conducted research on the dyadic experience of cancer for over 15 years, including a longitudinal study of families navigating a diagnosis of lung cancer, and several studies examining couples 2-3 years after a diagnosis of any cancer. This work was among the first early research in cancer that took a dyadic approach, particularly in the context of lung cancer. Notable contributions of this work include the important roles of shared symptom appraisal, open communication and collaborative behaviors for optimal dyadic health over time; the associations of family support and financial toxicity on dyadic well-being; the complex role of relationship quality in life-threatening cancers; and the protective role of dyadic management behaviors on physical, mental, and relational health. Full list of publications.

We are currently examining the experience of loneliness in lung cancer survivors and their care partners (e.g., spouse/partners, adult-children), the role of gender-norm conformity on how couples with any cancer collaborate and communicate, and the experience of fear of recurrence within young-midlife couples several years beyond a cancer diagnosis. These studies were funded by the American Cancer Society (RSGPB-07-171-01-CPPB, Boston College, and Oregon Health & Science University.

2. Chronic Pain

Our team has also examined how women with fibromyalgia and their male partners collaborate to manage the illness and the impact on their physical and mental health, including the role of shared illness appraisals and communication on quality of life. We are currently examining dyadic health, communication, and coping. This study was funded by NIAMS Full list of publications. 

3. Theory and Methods

Over her career Dr. Lyons has made important conceptual contributions to the family care literature. She was among the first to 1) describe the conceptual advantages of a dyadic perspective of family care (2002; 2005), 2) call for a focus on balancing the needs within the care dyad (2005; 2014; 2018; 2020), and 3) advocate for the use of "care partner" rather than "giver/receiver" (2002; 2005). This early work influenced caregiving researchers to view the care experience as a dyadic process rather than an individual process. Over the years, she has continued to examine novel conceptualizations of the interpersonal context of family care with interdisciplinary teams across illness contexts (e.g., dyadic health, dyadic confidence, dyadic illness management, dyadic appraisal). Most recently, this work culminated in the co-development of the Theory of Dyadic Illness Management with Dr. Lee. The theory is currently being tested across disciplines and illnesses and has been cited more than 400 times.

Dr. Lyons’ early research also addressed important methodological gaps in the family care literature, with her 2002 publication in Journals of Gerontology among the first publications in caregiving research to use multilevel modeling to analyze dyadic data. More recent methodological work has focused on trajectories of symptom (in)congruence within care dyads (2014; 2020), dyadic health (2018; 2019), and considerations in evaluating dyadic interventions (2024). She is also the lead author on the recently published book, Dyadic Health Science: Theories, Methods, and Future Directions (2025). Full list of publications.