BACKGROUND: Evidence continues to build for the impact of the marital relationship on health as well as the negative impact of illness on the partner. Targeting both patient and partner may enhance the efficacy of psychosocial or behavioral interventions for chronic illness. PURPOSE: The purpose of this report is to present a cross-disease review of the characteristics and findings of studies evaluating couple-oriented interventions for chronic physical illness. METHODS: We conducted a qualitative review of 33 studies and meta-analyses for a subset of 25 studies. RESULTS: Identified studies focused on cancer, arthritis, cardiovascular disease, chronic pain, HIV, and Type 2 diabetes. Couple interventions had significant effects on patient depressive symptoms (d = 0.18, p < 0.01, k = 20), marital functioning (d = 0.17, p < 0.01, k = 18), and pain (d = 0.19, p < 0.01, k = 14) and were more efficacious than either patient psychosocial intervention or usual care. CONCLUSIONS: Couple-oriented interventions have small effects that may be strengthened by targeting partners' influence on patient health behaviors and focusing on couples with high illness-related conflict, low partner support, or low overall marital quality. Directions for future research include assessment of outcomes for both patient and partner, comparison of couple interventions to evidence-based patient interventions, and evaluation of mechanisms of change.
BACKGROUND: Evidence continues to build for the impact of the marital relationship on health as well as the negative impact of illness on the partner. Targeting both patient and partner may enhance the efficacy of psychosocial or behavioral interventions for chronic illness. PURPOSE: The purpose of this report is to present a cross-disease review of the characteristics and findings of studies evaluating couple-oriented interventions for chronic physical illness. METHODS: We conducted a qualitative review of 33 studies and meta-analyses for a subset of 25 studies. RESULTS: Identified studies focused on cancer, arthritis, cardiovascular disease, chronic pain, HIV, and Type 2 diabetes. Couple interventions had significant effects on patientdepressive symptoms (d = 0.18, p < 0.01, k = 20), marital functioning (d = 0.17, p < 0.01, k = 18), and pain (d = 0.19, p < 0.01, k = 14) and were more efficacious than either patientpsychosocial intervention or usual care. CONCLUSIONS: Couple-oriented interventions have small effects that may be strengthened by targeting partners' influence on patient health behaviors and focusing on couples with high illness-related conflict, low partner support, or low overall marital quality. Directions for future research include assessment of outcomes for both patient and partner, comparison of couple interventions to evidence-based patient interventions, and evaluation of mechanisms of change.
Authors: Paul L Kimmel; Rolf A Peterson; Karen L Weihs; Nicole Shidler; Samuel J Simmens; Sylvan Alleyne; Illuminado Cruz; Jack A Yanovski; Judith H Veis; Terry M Phillips Journal: J Am Soc Nephrol Date: 2000-08 Impact factor: 10.121
Authors: Vinayak K Nahar; M Allison Ford; Robert T Brodell; Javier F Boyas; Stephanie K Jacks; Rizwana Biviji-Sharma; Mary A Haskins; Martha A Bass Journal: J Cancer Res Clin Oncol Date: 2015-12-07 Impact factor: 4.553
Authors: Bernice C Yates; Joseph Norman; Jane Meza; Kaye Stanek Krogstrand; Susana Harrington; Scott Shurmur; Matthew Johnson; Karen Schumacher Journal: J Cardiovasc Nurs Date: 2015 Mar-Apr Impact factor: 2.083
Authors: Jared R Anderson; Joshua R Novak; Matthew D Johnson; Sharon L Deitz; Ann Walker; Allison Wilcox; Virginia L Lewis; David C Robbins Journal: J Behav Med Date: 2016-09-30