title: Spouses' use of pressure and persuasion to promote osteoarthritis patients' medical adherence after orthopedic surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The authors investigated health-related effects of social control (influence) that spouses exert in relation to osteoarthritis patients' medical adherence after total knee replacement surgery. Patients' behavioral and emotional responses to control were examined as mediators of associations between spouses' use of two control strategies (pressure, persuasion) and patients' physical and psychological recovery.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors used a three-wave panel design with assessments at one month before surgery, 1 month and 3 months after surgery. Data were collected during in-person interviews with 70 married, older adult patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Recovery outcomes were assessed as improvement in knee limitations and depressive symptoms at the 3 month follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Spousal pressure and persuasion at one month postsurgery were indirectly associated with patients' recovery outcomes through patients' positive emotional responses to control.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although there are often immediate behavioral benefits in response to partners' use of both pressure and persuasion, the long-term health effects of these strategies seem to be accounted for by their opposing links to positive emotions. Findings further refine theory on health-related social control in marriage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242-0001, USA. mstephen@kent.edu
authors.forename: Mary Ann Parris
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Stephens
authors.forename: Erin M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Fekete
authors.forename: Melissa M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Franks
authors.forename: Karen S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Rook
authors.forename: Jennifer Ann
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Druley
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Greene
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003068:Coercion; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000601:surgery*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010565:Persuasive Communication; D011182:Postoperative Care; D018454:Spouses; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires