Implications of Marital/Partner Relationship Quality and Perceived Stress for Blood Pressure Among Older Adults

Birditt, Kira S.; Newton, Nicky J.; Hope, Susannah

doi:10.1093/geronb/gbs123

Cited by 42 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…There was also a lesser presence of men, perhaps because women value self-care more and consequently were more willing to participate in the program [28]. Most of the participants lived with a companion and some studies show that family support is a favorable factor for health care [11, 29]. …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating the effectiveness of an empowerment program for self-care in type 2 diabetes: a cluster randomized trial

et al. 2017

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BackgroundThe prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus is increasing substantially worldwide, leading to serious economic effects, complications and deaths. This study evaluated the effectiveness of an empowerment program providing support for psychosocial, behavioral, and clinical aspects of diabetes to help Brazilian users of public health services obtain metabolic control of this condition.MethodsIn this cluster randomized trial, participants aged 30–80 diagnosed with type 2 diabetes were recruited from ten Brazilian public health units in 2014 and 2015. Five units were randomly assigned to receive the empowerment program based on a behavior change protocol, and five continued to receive only conventional treatment. The primary outcome was the biochemical and anthropometric parameters, and the secondary outcomes were self-care, attitude, knowledge and empowerment related to diabetes. The effect of the experiment was defined as the percentage variation between the values at the initial and final periods. To evaluate this effect and to compare it in the two groups, tests were used for paired and independent samples, respectively.ResultsThere were 238 participants: 127 and 111 in the intervention and control group, respectively. For glycated hemoglobin, the mean effect in the control and intervention groups was 3.93 and −5.13, respectively (p < 0.001). Levels of glycated hemoglobin and other metabolic indicators, as well as the most part of the secondary outcomes showed a significant difference in the experimental group compared to the control group.ConclusionsThe empowerment program improved metabolic control of type 2 diabetes in Brazilian users.Trial registration NCT02132338 - April 22, 2014.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating the effectiveness of an empowerment program for self-care in type 2 diabetes: a cluster randomized trial

et al. 2017

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“…This difference could be the result of varying methodologies and indices of health. For example, Birditt et al (2012) examined blood pressure as an outcome, which is quite different from our focus on self-rated health and functional limitations. It may be that negative social exchanges are impactful on the vascular system but not directly associated with the information individuals use to make judgments about self-rated health or processes associated with functional ability.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is hypothesized that an individual's perceptions of spousal support will be positively associated with better health (higher self-rated health and fewer functional limitations). Whereas extant research reports mixed findings on the effect of spousal strain/negative support on health (e.g., Birditt et al, 2012), it was hypothesized that individuals with higher levels of perceived spousal strain would be associated with poorer health. (2) Over and above the effect of an individual's spousal perceptions on her/his health, is an older individual's health also influenced by the spousal perceptions of her/his spouse?…”

Section: Current Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, other research indicates a more nuanced and complex pattern of associations of support and strain with health. Birditt et al (2012) examined whether perceptions of spouse/partner support and strain affected the association of stress with blood pressure. Results indicate a complex association, such that perceptions of being able to confide in your partner but also having few feelings of being able to rely on your partner attenuated the impact of high stress days on systolic blood pressure.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Spousal social support and strain: impacts on health in older couples

2014

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Using a nationally representative sample of couples aged 51+ in the United States (N = 1,923 couples), the current study investigated whether both partners’ perceptions of relationship support and strain are associated with an individual's self-rated health and functional limitations. The sample had an average age of 67.17 years (SD = 9.0; range 50–97). Actor–Partner Interdependence Models adjusting for couple interdependencies were applied using multilevel models. After accounting for age, education, gender, race, and couple differences in length of marriage, results indicate that individual perceptions of support were significantly associated with higher self-rated health and fewer functional limitations. These individual-level benefits increased if the spouse also perceived positive support and low strain. Finally, the negative association of an individual's perceived support on functional limitations was greater in those with a spouse reporting low levels of perceived strain. Findings are discussed relative to theory on behavioral and psychological pathways between partners’ perceptions of support and health.

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“…The growing literature on relationship quality and health demonstrates that, in certain circumstance, having demanding or critical ties can result in positive health outcomes (Antonucci, Birditt, & Webster, 2010;Birditt & Antonucci, 2008;Birditt, Newton, & Hope, 2014). Although our findings cannot speak directly to these studies, the issues of relationship quality found here raise questions about the type and extent of negative ties that can produce positive outcomes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 53%

Older Gay Men and Their Support Convoys

Tester

Wright

2016

GERONB

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Objective: We used the convoy model and the network type construct to identify the relationship quality profiles found among older gay men and to examine how they define a satisfactory network. Method: We used a network mapping strategy and in-depth qualitative interviews with 20 participants in Atlanta. During the interviews, all network members were discussed, regardless of relationship or map position. Results: For participants, having people in their lives with whom they could fully be "out" as gay men (authenticity) was at the root of a quality network. This allowed them to develop emotional closeness (intimacy), which, in part, provided a foundation of social support. Participants' discussion of network quality, which reflected authenticity, intimacy, and social support, revealed high, moderate, and low quality network types. Discussion: Our findings diversify knowledge of the network type construct, provide a deeper understanding of its qualitative features, and give voice to this often-invisible group, situating meaning within their social-historical context. The findings suggest that the meaning of a quality network is contextual and culturally specific, varying across groups of older adults.

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Implications of Marital/Partner Relationship Quality and Perceived Stress for Blood Pressure Among Older Adults

Cited by 42 publications

References 49 publications

Evaluating the effectiveness of an empowerment program for self-care in type 2 diabetes: a cluster randomized trial

Evaluating the effectiveness of an empowerment program for self-care in type 2 diabetes: a cluster randomized trial

Spousal social support and strain: impacts on health in older couples

Older Gay Men and Their Support Convoys

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