TitleEmotional congruence in older couples coping with wives' osteoarthritis: exacerbating effects of pain behavior.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2003
AuthorsDruley, JA, Stephens, MAnn Parris, Martire, LM, Ennis, N, Wojno, WC
JournalPsychol Aging
Volume18
Issue3
Pagination406-14
Date Published2003 Sep
ISSN0882-7974
KeywordsAged, Aged, 80 and over, Anger, Caregivers, Depression, Emotions, Female, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Male, Middle Aged, Osteoarthritis, Pain, Spouses
Abstract

<p>The authors examined congruence in the negative emotions (depression, anger) of 101 female osteoarthritis patients (M age = 69 years) and their caregiving husbands (M age = 71 years) and the extent to which patients' pain behavior (e.g., limping, rubbing joints) exacerbated linkages between partners' negative emotions. Associations between patients' and husbands' emotions were examined within domains (e.g., depression-depression) and across domains (e.g., depression-anger) over a 6-month interval. Regression analyses revealed that patients' initial levels of depressive symptoms and anger were related to increases in their husbands' anger over time. The associations between patients' depressive symptoms and their husbands' depressive symptoms and anger were conditioned by pain behaviors. Patients who were more depressed and who engaged in high levels of pain behavior had husbands who became more depressed and angry.</p>

DOI10.1037/0882-7974.18.3.406
Alternate JournalPsychol Aging
PubMed ID14518804
Grant ListHL65111 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
HL65112 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States