Author :
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 62 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (95 download)
Book Synopsis Couples Coping with Chronic Medical Conditions by :
Download or read book Couples Coping with Chronic Medical Conditions written by and published by . This book was released on 2016 with total page 62 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Chronic illness is defined as a medical condition that requires a lifetime of care and management. Millions of adults in the United States have been diagnosed with at least one chronic medical condition over the past decade. Lifestyle choices significantly influence appropriate illness management and health outcomes. Several studies have found that patient health behaviors are substantially shaped by their partner’s coping behavior, lifestyle preferences, and level of adjustment to chronic illness. Couples facing chronic illness experience increased stress resulting from loss of health, financial concerns, treatment side-effects, and challenges to pre-established roles within the relationship. When partners become burdened by caregiving duties or the patient’s general distress, they may engage in maladaptive coping behaviors that can lead to the deterioration of the relationship. A problematic relationship can be detrimental to the patient’s ability to cope with illness and adhere to treatment recommendations. Given the rising prevalence and incidence of chronic illness in the United States, there is a pressing need to optimize treatment options through awareness of relationship dynamics and its effect on treatment adherence and health outcomes. Purpose: The purpose of this literature review was to identify dyadic coping behaviors that are effective in improving adherence to treatment recommendations, diminishing distress and facilitating adjustment to chronic illness. Method: Studies were obtained via a comprehensive search of the literature using the following databases: CINAHL Plus, PsycARTICLES, ProQuest, PubMed Central, and PsycINFO. The search included numerous combinations of the following keywords: couple, couples, spouse, partner, partners, coping, coping styles, medical condition, chronic illness, chronic disease, illness, and disease. Findings: Twenty studies investigating couples coping with chronic illness were identified: five randomized controlled trials, three single-group cohort designs, one multigroup-cohort design, three correlational research design studies, six cross-sectional case-control design studies, and two qualitative descriptive design studies. The studies lacked sample diversity; therefore, the findings have limited generalizability. Overall, the studies indicated that couples benefit from dyadic coping which often results in improved wellbeing. However, sixty percent of the studies found significant gender differences in terms of coping style, perceived distress, and benefits obtained from couple-based intervention. Women, regardless of being the patient or healthy partner, were found to experience greater physiological and emotional distress than men. Twelve out of twenty studies found that women’s mood significantly improved when dyadic collaborative coping strategies were employed. Men’s emotional distress was significantly correlated with illness symptoms and treatment side-effects rather than relationship disruptions. Collaborative coping was not statistically significant in improving male patients’ emotional distress. Male partners tend to utilize a problem solving approach when providing support and experience frustration when their partner does not perceive them as being supportive. Men’s emotional well-being was negatively affected when they viewed their partner’s illness as intrusive and a disruption to their lifestyle. When men perceived caregiving duties as intrusive, rather than a shared objective, the use of hostile behaviors increased and dyadic coping behaviors decreased. Conclusions: The findings of the studies point to the benefits of dyadic coping when couples are managing chronic illness as a shared endeavor. Moreover, the studies found that partner’s behaviors influence the patient’s treatment adherence, maintenance of recommended lifestyle changes, and general adjustment to the medical condition. Most studies found that women were the most affected by chronic illness, regardless of being the patient. Given the gender differences found in sixty percent of the studies, women’s psychology and the impact of traditional gender roles, when a couple is coping with chronic illness, were explored. Women prefer to utilize active communication and emotion-focused coping to resolve conflict. On the other hand, men provide support by employing a problem-solving approach and are less likely to talk about their emotional state. These differences in coping styles often lead to frustration in the relationship and diminished intimacy. Professionals assisting couples who are facing chronic illness would benefit from exploring the couples’ pre-established gender roles and preferred coping style. Couples may not only benefit from education about illness management but also from information about relational dynamics that are supportive of adaptive adjustment to chronic illness. Clinicians could assist couples in framing chronic illness as an opportunity to deepen intimacy and mutual understanding.
