title: An examination of the physical health, health care use, and psychological well-being of spouses of people with fibromyalgia syndrome.
abstract: The present study compared the physical and mental health and the health care use of spouses of patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FS group; n = 135) with that of spouses of healthy individuals (n = 153). FS group participants reported lower health and affective states and scored higher on depression, loneliness, and subjective stress than comparison group participants (p < .017). Husbands in the FS group who reported more illness impact and whose wives reported worse sleep quality and less self-efficacy had more psychological difficulties. No differences were found in health care costs between groups. These findings suggest that chronic illness in a partner may negatively affect an individual's physical and mental health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, 46202-3275, USA. sbigatti@iupui.edu
authors.forename: Silvia M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Bigatti
authors.forename: Terry A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Cronan
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002140:California; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000191:economics; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012044:Regression Analysis; D018454:Spouses