Close relationships and the management of chronic illness: Associations and interventions.

Abstract

Self-management of a chronic illness involves not only monitoring symptoms, adhering to medication regimens, and keeping medical appointments but also making and maintaining difficult lifestyle changes. This article highlights correlational and intervention research suggesting family members are influential in children’s and adults’ illness management. The argument is made that a dyadic approach to chronic illness management that targets the influence of close relationships may yield more sustainable effects on patient behavior than has been achieved in the past. In particular, dyadic approaches aimed at helping patients and family members to find ways to collaborate in goal setting for these behaviors is recommended. Such dyadic interventions may also benefit family members who are ill or are at risk due to poor health behaviors.

Longitudinal Associations Between Cognitive Functioning and Depressive Symptoms Among Older Adult Spouses in the Cardiovascular Health Study

“…Our research supports efforts to target older couples to collaborate in cognitive training and therapy to enhance well-being. 35 Although studies examining the efficacy of couples treatment of depression 36 and cognitive decline 37 are limited, there is growing interest in dyadic interventions for persons with dementia and mild cognitive impairment and their spousal caregivers. 38 For example, Stahl et al 39 demonstrated in a recent case study that training a spouse to be a problem-solving therapy coach can have psychological benefits not only for the person with mild cognitive impairment but also for the spouse.…”

A family affair: Supporting children with chronic illnesses

“…More children are surviving and living with chronic illnesses (CIs; Compas, Jaser, Dunn, & Rodriguez, ). Approximately 15–19% of the children in the United States face CIs (Churchill, Villareale, Monaghan, Sharp, & Kieckhefer, ; Martire & Helgeson, ; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, ). A CI is a physical or mental condition that requires frequent medical care and hospitalizations, does not remit spontaneously, may last for a long period of time, may not be cured, and prevents involvement in regular activities, such as attending school (Compas et al, ; Ollendick & Schroeder, ; Trowbridge & Mische‐Lawson, ).…”

Spousal understanding and marital satisfaction in pain patients and their spouses

“…The efficacy of couple-oriented interventions for the management of chronic illnesses has been established (Martire & Helgeson, 2017;Martire, Schulz, Helgeson, Small, & Saghafi, 2010), and the current work uncovered aspects of communication that may be important for such interventions. A recent meta-analysis has suggested the small, yet stable, effect that marital quality has on health (Robles, Slatcher, Trombello, & McGinn, 2014).…”