Life satisfaction of adolescents and adults with cystic fibrosis: impact of partnership and gender.
BACKGROUND
This is the first study to assess the impact of gender and partnership on life satisfaction in adolescents and adults with CF, using a model combining subjective importance and satisfaction ratings.


METHODS
Life satisfaction of 243 CF patients (16-58 years, M=29.6, SD=7.4, 46.9% male) was assessed with the Questions on Life Satisfaction (FLZ(M)). The effects of gender and partnership on life satisfaction were calculated.


RESULTS
Significantly less males than females reported living with a partner (chi(2)=16.5, p<001). Gender only had a significant effect on health-related life satisfaction, with females reporting worse life satisfaction. Partnership had small to large effects on general, health-related and CF-specific life satisfaction (eta(2)=.049-.144). Participants with partners always reported higher life satisfaction than those without partner. However, no significant interaction effect of partnership and gender could be shown.


CONCLUSIONS
Having a partner is associated with higher life satisfaction, regardless of the patient's gender and might have beneficial effects on medical outcomes.
Besier
Tanja
T
University Hospital Ulm, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychotherapy, Ulm, Germany. Tanja.Besier@uniklinik-ulm.de
Schmitz
Tim G
TG
Goldbeck
Lutz
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000523:psychology*; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult