title: Older couples' management of multiple-chronic illnesses: Individual and shared perceptions and coping in Type 2 diabetes and osteoarthritis.
abstract: Using data from interviews with 28 older couples in which 1 spouse was diagnosed with diabetes and osteoarthritis, we examined illness perceptions and coping activities as they relate to illness management and relationship resilience. Qualitative analysis of interview transcripts revealed categories of data related to perceptions, coping, and cross category comparisons. Findings suggest that couples experience both negative and positive perceptions of their illnesses, indicating a balance between the reality of their illness challenges and an optimistic outlook of the future. Coping activities included a variety of tasks and were performed by individuals, by both spouses in a shared effort, and by individuals and shared couple efforts. Findings highlight the complexity of individual and shared couple illness perception and couple efforts in managing multiple-chronic illnesses.
authors.affiliation: School of Family Life, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA. jeremy_yorgason@byu.edu
authors.forename: Jeremy B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Yorgason
authors.forename: Susanne Olsen
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Roper
authors.forename: Brandan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wheeler
authors.forename: Kristen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Crane
authors.forename: Rebekah
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Byron
authors.forename: Leslie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Carpenter
authors.forename: Jonathan G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Sandberg
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sheffield
authors.forename: Dawn
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Higley
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000523:psychology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000523:psychology*; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*