Older spouses' perceptions of partners' chronic arthritis pain: implications for spousal responses, support provision, and caregiving experiences.
This study of older patients with osteoarthritis and their spouses examined concordance between patients' and spouses' reports of patients' pain severity and the association of concordance with support and caregiving outcomes. Patients and spouses independently viewed videotapes of the patient performing simulated household tasks and provided ratings of patients' pain. Spousal overestimation of patients' pain was the most common type of nonconcordance. Spouses who were accurate in their perceptions of their partner's level of pain during a log-carrying task responded less negatively and provided emotional support that was more satisfying to patients. In addition, spouses who were accurate in their perceptions of their partner's pain during the log-carrying task reported less stress from providing support and assistance. Future research that uses such observational methods may be highly useful for understanding the effects of chronic illness on older couples.
Martire
Lynn M
LM
University Center for Social and Urban Research, University of Pittsburgh.
Keefe
Francis J
FJ
Department of Psychiatry, Duke University.
Schulz
Richard
R
University Center for Social and Urban Research, University of Pittsburgh.
Ready
Rebecca
R
University Center for Social and Urban Research, University of Pittsburgh.
Beach
Scott R
SR
University Center for Social and Urban Research, University of Pittsburgh.
Rudy
Thomas E
TE
Department of Anesthesiology, University of Pittsburgh.
Starz
Terence W
TW
Division of Rheumatology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh.
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D017028:Caregivers; D003376:Counseling; D006801:Humans; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010146:Pain; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D018579:Patient Selection; D010465:Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D011678:Punishment; D012944:Social Support; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D014743:Videotape Recording