Purpose The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of complementary and novel measures of partner interfering and partner supportive behaviors in cancer care (PIB‐C and PSB‐C). Methods Structured telephone interviews were conducted with 378 women (aged 18–79) in partnered relationships and recruited from the Kentucky Cancer Registry. Psychometric analyses of PIB‐C and PSB‐C were used to determine scale reliability, and scale construct and predictive validity (correlations with indicators of partner abuse, symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress after cancer). Results Cronbach's alpha and split‐half calculations indicated excellent internal consistency of the 20‐item PIB‐C (0.936 and 0.87, respectively) and 12‐item PSB‐C (0.930 and 0.89). Three thematic clusters for the PIB‐C and two for the PSB‐C were identified through factor analyses. Regarding construct validity, higher PIB‐C and lower PSB‐C scores were associated with a measure of psychological impacts from abuse. Predictive validity was suggested through (1) lower PSB‐C associated with depression, (2) higher PIB‐C associated with anxiety, and (3) higher perceived stress associated with higher PIB‐C/lower PSB‐C scores. Conclusion Both PIB‐C and PSB‐C have strong psychometric properties and distinguish partner behaviors more likely to negatively impact women's depression, anxiety, and stress during cancer care/recovery. Use of these measures may assist clinical teams in comprehensively assessing women patients' home environment to best ensure cancer care/recovery. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.