Abstract
COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is associated with psychological distress for patients as well as their partners.
Dyadic coping can be negatively impacted by stressors. This study’s objective was to compare the dyadic coping of couples
in which one partner suffered from COPD with healthy couples of the same age. A total of 43 complete couples with COPD and
138 healthy couples participated in this pilot study. The surveys were sent by mail. The response rate of the COPD sample
was 24.3%. In order to analyze the effect of gender and role (patient vs. partner) on dyadic coping, linear mixed models were
calculated. To analyze the effect of gender and group (COPD group vs. normative comparison group) on dyadic coping, two-way
analyses of variance were calculated for independent samples. COPD patients and their partners indicated that the patients
received more support and were less able to provide support to their partners. This difference was also evident in comparison
with the normative comparison group. In addition, couples with COPD perceived higher levels of negative coping and provided
a considerably lower assessment of their positive dyadic coping. The dyadic coping of couples with COPD is unbalanced and
more negative when compared to that of healthy couples. Interventions aimed at supporting COPD couples should seek to improve
couples’ dyadic coping in addition to individual coping strategies.
Dyadic coping can be negatively impacted by stressors. This study’s objective was to compare the dyadic coping of couples
in which one partner suffered from COPD with healthy couples of the same age. A total of 43 complete couples with COPD and
138 healthy couples participated in this pilot study. The surveys were sent by mail. The response rate of the COPD sample
was 24.3%. In order to analyze the effect of gender and role (patient vs. partner) on dyadic coping, linear mixed models were
calculated. To analyze the effect of gender and group (COPD group vs. normative comparison group) on dyadic coping, two-way
analyses of variance were calculated for independent samples. COPD patients and their partners indicated that the patients
received more support and were less able to provide support to their partners. This difference was also evident in comparison
with the normative comparison group. In addition, couples with COPD perceived higher levels of negative coping and provided
a considerably lower assessment of their positive dyadic coping. The dyadic coping of couples with COPD is unbalanced and
more negative when compared to that of healthy couples. Interventions aimed at supporting COPD couples should seek to improve
couples’ dyadic coping in addition to individual coping strategies.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-12
- DOI 10.1007/s10880-011-9279-7
- Authors
- Caroline Meier, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Zurich, Raemistrasse 100, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
- Guy Bodenmann, Institute of Psychology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Hanspeter Moergeli, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Zurich, Raemistrasse 100, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
- Melanie Peter-Wight, Institute of Psychology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Mike Martin, Institute of Psychology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Stefan Buechi, Private Clinic Hohenegg, Meilen, Switzerland
- Josef Jenewein, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Zurich, Raemistrasse 100, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
- Journal Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings
- Online ISSN 1573-3572
- Print ISSN 1068-9583