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Results for “Spousal Support”

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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2004

Spousal support satisfaction as a modifier of physiological responses to marital conflict in younger and older couples.

We investigated linkages between spousal support satisfaction and affective, cortisol, and blood pressure responses to conflict in two samples, 85 newlyweds and 31 older couples, married an average of 42 years. Couples were admitted to a hospital research unit and provided self-reports regarding the support received from their spouses. After a baseline period, couples engaged in a 30-min conflict discussion during which time blood was drawn for cortisol assessment. After the conflict, newlyweds' blood pressure was measured. Among newlywed wives, greater spousal support satisfaction was associated with smaller changes in negative affect and cortisol responses to conflict. Notably, newlywed wives and husbands demonstrated lower blood pressure after conflict when spousal support satisfaction was higher. In contrast, older husbands (but not wives) exhibited greater cortisol responses when spousal support satisfaction was lower. These relationships provide a window on mechanisms linking marriage and health for men and women across the life span.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Ageing with spinal cord injury: the impact of spousal support.

PURPOSE: Research has offered ample evidence that spousal support can be seen as an important contributing factor to the ongoing health and well-being of ageing individuals, whether or not they have a spinal cord injury (SCI) or disability. In fact, spouses may be the most important element in successful rehabilitation and long-term home care for people with spinal cord injuries. This longitudinal study, which describes 225 British SCI long-term survivors, offers insight into marital status and its impact on general quality of life, depression, stress and community integration for individuals with SCI. RESULTS: The results demonstrate married individuals having less depression, greater life satisfaction and psychological well-being, and having better perceived quality of life. When controlling for age, duration of injury, and gender, marital status was a significant predictor of better perceived life satisfaction and quality of life.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Nature of spousal supportive behaviors that influence heart transplant patient compliance.

Heart transplant patient survival is dependent on strict adherence to a specific medical regimen including medication administration, infection control, diet, and exercise. The literature suggests that transplant patients are predisposed to noncompliance by virtue of the multiple factors involved in the regimen; it also suggests that spousal support may play a significant role in assisting patients to attain the regimen goals. The purpose of this descriptive study was to determine the nature of spousal behaviors influencing compliance. The method for this study involved designing an open-ended interview guide that elicited responses from married subjects, 6 to 18 months after transplantation, regarding their perceptions of spousal support. Responses were cross-classified according to a social support typology and the four regimen domains; frequency of responses was rank ordered. Spousal behaviors identified as supportive were predominantly informational (46.66%) and tangible (38.09%) in nature; only 15.23% were emotional. The data suggest a perceived need by most subjects to receive additional instruction, guidance, and feedback from the spouse; also, there is a tendency for patients to depend on their spouses for their material needs, physical assistance, and transportation until they are more capable. The results imply that because of patient personality and behavioral changes after surgery, it may be easier for spouses to avoid emotional aspects of support; communicating with patients on a more concrete level. Implications for nursing and other health care providers lie in identifying and cultivating those spousal behaviors that serve to motivate the patient toward compliance and optimal home health care maintenance.

Behavior↗

PubMed2006

Directive and nondirective spousal support: differential effects?

In this study we investigated whether the following factors influenced married partners' reactions to spousal support: type of support (directive vs. nondirective); individual differences (gender, depressive symptoms); and dimension along which support was evaluated (level of helpfulness vs. valence of emotional impact). Nondirective support was consistently rated more favorably on the dimension of partner's impact than on the dimension of partner's helpfulness, and this effect was exaggerated for those self-reporting a high level of depressive symptoms. Nonetheless, directive support was provided more frequently than was nondirective support in this sample. Gender differences and complications introduced by partner dysphoria suggest some situations in which directive support may be particularly difficult to provide effectively. Implications for couple therapy are discussed.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Relative contributions of spousal support and illness appraisals to depressed mood in arthritis patients.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the ability of cognitive appraisals of illness and spousal support to modify depressed mood in arthritis patients. METHODS: Psychosocial data were collected from 64 married patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) within 2 years of diagnosis and at an 18-month followup. RESULTS: The interaction of challenge appraisals with positive support received from the spouse was related to changes in depression over time. There was an increase in depression as challenge appraisals increased when accompanied by greater receipt of positive support, whereas individuals who did not experience a sense of challenge in response to the diagnosis of RA had the lowest levels of residualized depression when they also received higher positive support from their spouses at the beginning of the study. CONCLUSION: The results are considered in terms of the cognitive-behavioral mediation model suggested by Kerns and associates concerning the relationship of chronic pain to depression and have implications for interventions aimed at arthritis patients and their spouses.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗

PubMed2003

[Do physicians experience spousal support in their medical career?].

BACKGROUND: The professional life of physicians is characterised by long working days and pressure for efficiency. Family life represents an arena for developing other aspects of life. It is not well known to what extent physicians' spouses are supportive of the physician's total situation, or how gender, age, family or professional aspects influence this perception. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a nation-wide survey of the medical profession, 1594 male and 512 female physicians answered 12 attitude statements relating to work and family life. The responses were grouped by factor analysis into three dimensions: emotional support, instrumental support, and conflict. The statistical analysis for associations between social support and age, family and professional factors was performed separately for men and women in multivariate models. RESULTS: Physicians were generally satisfied with the support given by their spouses. Female physicians reported more emotional support; male physicians perceived or reported more practical support as well as more conflict. The experience of conflict was most pronounced among physicians aged 35-44 and among those reporting long working hours. The strongest positive association between social support and spouse's profession was found for spouses who were physicians themselves. INTERPRETATION: Experienced spousal support among Norwegian physicians is influenced by gender and various aspects of work and family life. Physicians with same-profession spouses expressed the greatest satisfaction with the support they received.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Marital support, spousal contact and the course of mild hypertension.

OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: To define marital support (MS) and its correlates in a sample of mild hypertensives where marital adjustment (by Dyadic Adjustment Scale, DAS) was related to 3-year left ventricular mass, a secondary analysis was performed on 103 men and women who underwent 24-h ambulatory BP (ABP) monitoring, M-mode echocardiography and completed psychosocial questionnaires at baseline and 3 years. RESULTS: MS, defined as the presence of both marital satisfaction and cohesion (upper quartiles of DAS subscales) at baseline, predicted 3-year left ventricular mass (P=.007), which decreased 8% in the MS group and increased 6.26% in the low MS group. The MS group also had lower 24-h diastolic BP over 3 years (P=.016) than the low MS group. Based on the amount of spousal contact during ABP, MS subjects spent much more time together after 3 years than at baseline (P=.008) and compared to the low MS group (P=.027). CONCLUSION: MS, a construct of both the quality and quantity of contact between spouses, was related to improved 3-year outcome in mild hypertension. Prospective clarification of the role of MS in mild hypertension is required.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Self-esteem as a mediator between spousal support and depressive symptoms: a comparison of healthy individuals and individuals coping with arthritis.

This study examined whether self-esteem mediated the effects of both self-reported positive and negative marital interactions on depressive symptoms and whether the relationships among marital interactions, self-esteem, and depressive symptoms were stronger for individuals (n = 90) coping with arthritis compared with individuals (n = 90) not coping with a chronic illness. Data were drawn from the 1986 Americans' Changing Lives national survey. The results of multigroup structural equation analysis suggest that mediation depends on the type of marital interaction being considered and the group being examined. For the arthritis group, self-esteem mediated the relationship between negative marital interactions and depressive symptoms, whereas for the healthy group self-esteem played no role in mediating the relationship between marital interactions and depressive symptoms. Findings underscore the importance of testing moderated-mediation models of social support.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed1999

Retirement intentions and spousal support: a multi-actor approach.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigates the role of the partner in the retirement decision-making process. It determines the extent to which the support and intentions of partners regarding early retirement influence each other, and which partner dominates. METHODS: Data have been collected directly from 1,052 older employees working in Dutch industry and trade, and from their spouses. Because it is conceptualized that husbands' and wives' retirement intentions/support are related in a reciprocal way, a two-stage least squares regression analysis (2SLS) is used to establish the specified mutual relationships. RESULTS: Intentions and support of both partners concerning retirement are strongly related. The results of the 2SLS suggest that early retirement of one of the spouses is the result of influence processes within the household, and that early retirement can be considered, to a certain extent, a household decision. This holds for married men's early retirement in particular. There seems to be no direct causal relationship between a couple's own decision making with respect to early retirement and the retirement behavior of a couple's social network. DISCUSSION: Future research on the retirement decision-making process should focus on the family unit rather than simply on the individual worker, and be extended to different types of retirement behavior.

Age Factors↗

PubMed2005

A pilot study to determine support during the pre-treatment phase of early prostate cancer.

While we know about physicians' involvement in the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer, little is known about others who assist men in dealing with the diagnosis and treatment choices, once they are diagnosed with early prostate cancer, but not yet treated. This pilot study explores if men use other sources of support and the roles and functions of support providers. We conducted separate individual interviews with 21 men diagnosed with prostate cancer and 18 persons identified by the diagnosed men as their support provider. Some of the men diagnosed with prostate cancer reported not relying on a support provider, others identified other men already treated for prostate cancer, others' their partner. The provided support consisted of informational and emotional support. Men already treated for prostate cancer provided informational support. Spousal support depended on the diagnosed partner's willingness to accept emotional and/or informational support. Due to the variation in diagnosed men's support, we recommend that physicians inquire about patients' sources of and interest in support. This will reveal which patients rely almost exclusively on physicians, when deciding on a certain treatment.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

The social consequences of long-term breastfeeding.

This study examined the social consequences for mothers of long-term breastfeeding in a non-supportive culture, and how mothers learned to cope with negative reactions and comments from others. One hundred seventy-nine women who were recruited from La Leche League area conferences nationwide from 1989 to 1991 completed a self-administered closed-ended questionnaire which asked about their breastfeeding and weaning experiences. The percentage of mothers who cited "social stigma" as a negative aspect of breastfeeding increased dramatically as the age of the child increased; 29 percent cited social stigma for breastfeeding past six months, 44 percent for breastfeeding past 12 months, and 61 percent for breastfeeding past 24 months. In spite of the social stigma, the women cited more positive aspects for breastfeeding (M = 6.18 aspects) than they did negative aspects (M = .85 aspects). The positive aspects of breastfeeding emphasized the strong emotional bond between mother and child, and the emotional benefits they both received. Mother-to-mother support, spousal support, and a woman's own sense of confidence were important buffers against the criticism of others. And while the criticism of others was likely to cause negative feelings, the mothers reported that it had very little impact on their breastfeeding behaviors.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

The role of sense of belonging and social support on stress and depression in individuals with depression.

This longitudinal study examined the role of sense of belonging, social support, and spousal support on the relationship between perceived stress and symptoms of depression in 90 men and women who had a history of depression (n = 51) and who did not have (n = 39) a history of depression. Data were obtained at 3, 6, and 9 months after initial entry into the study. A series of regression analysis procedures revealed a mediation effect, but not a moderation effect, of sense of belonging and perceived social support on the relationship between perceived stress and depression in only the depressed group. Spousal support had neither a direct effect nor an interaction effect on the perceived stress-depression relationship in the depressed group. For the comparison group, perceived stress did not correlate significantly with the symptoms of depression. Repeated measures analysis of variance showed that increased perceived stress and lower sense of belonging had significant direct effects on the severity of depression and the effects were consistent over the period of 9 months. Social support and spousal support had only indirect effects that fluctuated over time. The results emphasize that interventions geared toward stress reappraisal and promotion of sense of belonging should yield direct and stable effects of decreasing depression.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2004

Social support and social strain among husbands and wives: a multilevel analysis.

In response to recent calls in the literature for within-person examinations of social support processes over time, this study explores the relationships of spousal support, spousal strain, and well-being among husbands and wives, both within the same day and across days. Eighty-three couples were interviewed and completed a structured diary twice daily for 1 week. The results of multilevel hierarchical modeling suggest that both spousal support and spousal strain made significant, independent contributions to concurrent negative affect, although only spousal support was a significant predictor of next-day negative affect. Spousal strain interacted with spousal support to predict next-day negative affect. Direct and moderating effects of perceived marital adjustment on negative affect were discussed.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2006

The relationship between parent-reported social support and adherence to medical treatment in families of adolescents with type 1 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationships between both mother-reported spousal support and social network support, and mother-adolescent diabetes-related conflict, discrepancies in decision-making autonomy (DDMA), and adolescent adherence to diabetes treatment. METHOD: Fifty-one mothers of adolescents with IDDM completed self-report measures of social support, diabetes-related conflict, and adolescent autonomy for diabetes care. Analyses tested conflict and DDMA as mediators between mother-reported social support and adolescent adherence to treatment. RESULTS: Increased levels of mother-adolescent conflict were associated with poorer treatment adherence and both mother-reported diabetes-related conflict and DDMA predicted adolescents' glycemic control. Higher levels of mother-reported spousal support were associated with less conflict and greater adherence to treatment. Sobel's test indicated a statistical trend for conflict as a mediator between spousal support and adolescent treatment adherence (p < .07). DDMA did not predict mother-adolescent conflict and did not emerge as a mediator between mother-reported social support and adolescent adherence. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the role of spousal support for mothers of adolescents with IDDM and indicates that the level of spousal support mothers receive may play an important role in the health care behaviors of their adolescents.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1984

Social support and mental health: direct, protective and compensatory effects.

This study deals with the relationship between social support and mental health. This relationship was conceptualized as a multi-faceted one which may be understood in terms of direct (main), protective (buffering) and compensatory effects. Hypotheses relating to these effects were evaluated in terms of spousal/community support and job strains (pressure, autonomy, opportunities) among a sample of 455 married males who were employed on a full-time basis. Results indicated that spousal support generally had more important implications for psychological well-being than did community support. However, the relative impact of these different sources of support appeared to be related to the degree to which the mental health symptomology reported was affectively defined. With respect to protective effects, spousal support was found to moderate the relationship between certain job strains (pressure) and mental health. No protective effects were found for community support. Tests of the hypothesis that community support compensates for low levels of spousal support were made in terms of both direct and protective effects. No direct effect compensation was observed. However, protective effect compensation was observed for certain job strains (opportunities) and was relevant to a wide range of symptomology. The overall results suggest a primary/secondary hierarchy of supports and strains in which primary supports (e.g. spousal) assume a protective function with respect to secondary strains (e.g. job) while secondary supports (e.g. community) do not protect individuals from primary strains (e.g. spousal). Secondary supports have a protective function for secondary strains in the absence of primary supports. It is further suggested that sex roles may be important determinants of the availability and use of different support sources.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Lack of marital support and poor psychological responses in male cancer patients.

A total of 272 men and 252 women with cancer participated in a study of the impact of being married and the presence of spousal support on psychological distress and coping with cancer. All participants underwent a structured interview and completed the Profile of Mood States and the Mental Adjustment to Cancer scale. Multivariate analysis controlling for potentially confounding biomedical and psychosocial variables revealed that unmarried men had significantly higher levels of psychological distress and lower levels of fighting spirit than married men, and that men with spousal support showed higher levels of fighting spirit than men without spousal support. However, no such difference was observed between unmarried and married women or between women with and without spousal support. These findings suggest that being married may play an important role in reducing psychological distress and enhancing fighting spirit of men with cancer, and that being unmarried may be a risk factor for psychological distress and lower fighting spirit for men with cancer.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed1995

Division of household labor and the well-being of retirement-aged wives.

A model specifying that certain subjective beliefs and structural conditions affect the symbolic meaning wives give to their household labor divisions was tested on 144 retirement-age married women. Results indicate that perceptions of spousal support mediate the relationship between a couple's division of household labor and the wife's well-being. Wives perceive less spousal support when housework divisions are more unequal favoring husbands. Lack of spousal support in turn leads to wives' lower marital happiness and increased depression. This relationship is stronger for employed wives than homemakers, but is not diminished either by a wife's traditionalism or by her husband's employment.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed1994

Alzheimer's and related disorders: loneliness, depression, and social support of spousal caregivers.

1. Meeting the myriad of emotional and social needs of caregivers for spouses with Alzheimer's disease (AD) will increasingly challenge nurses and the health care system. 2. Whether the person with AD remains at home or is institutionalized, spousal caregivers are at risk for loneliness and decreased social support. 3. Research studies have consistently found spousal caregivers to suffer from depression. 4. A comprehensive assessment of the caregiver and the care recipient may help the clinician identify aspects of the caregiving situation that are amenable to change.

Aged↗