Spouses' use of pressure and persuasion to promote osteoarthritis patients' medical adherence after orthopedic surgery.
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.
Stephens
Mary Ann Parris
MA
Department of Psychology, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242-0001, USA. mstephen@kent.edu
Fekete
Erin M
EM
Franks
Melissa M
MM
Rook
Karen S
KS
Druley
Jennifer Ann
JA
Greene
Kenneth
K
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