Spousal support following knee surgery: roles of self-efficacy and perceived emotional responsiveness.
OBJECTIVE
The objective was to investigate self-efficacy to manage recovery from surgery and perceptions of the spouse's emotional responsiveness of adults recovering from knee surgery as mediators of the association between the quality of support from the spouse following surgery and recovery outcomes.


METHODS
In-person interviews of married older adults (N = 134) with osteoarthritis of the knee who underwent total knee replacement surgery were conducted at 1 month before surgery, 1 month after surgery, and at 3 months after surgery.


METHODS
Outcomes were knee limitations and depressive symptoms.


RESULTS
Self-efficacy mediated the associations between emotional support and problematic support and improvement in knee limitations as well as between emotional support and improvement in depressive symptoms. Perceptions of the spouse's emotional responsiveness did not mediate associations between support and recovery outcomes.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings suggest that emotional support from the spouse can improve recovery outcomes in part by strengthening efficacy beliefs to manage recovery, and problematic support can hinder optimal recovery in part by weakening efficacy beliefs.
Khan
Cynthia M
CM
340 Kent Hall, Department of Psychology, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242-0001, USA. ckhan@kent.edu
Iida
Masumi
M
Stephens
Mary Ann Parris
MA
Fekete
Erin M
EM
Druley
Jennifer A
JA
Greene
Kenneth A
KA
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003469:Culture; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012803:Sick Role; D012944:Social Support; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*