Living with cardiovascular disease has both positive and negative psychosocial impacts on the marital relationship, highlighting the need to support spousal caregivers.
Marital effects of CVD warrant clinical attention to spousal dynamics; leaves open prospective trials of caregiver support.
The stress of living with cardiac disease can affect a couple's marriage, transforming its character. This article examines the psychosocial impact of cardiovascular disease, delineating the ways in which the illness experience changes the marital relationship. In-depth, semistructured interviews were conducted with 23 spouses of patients (mean age 56) diagnosed with cardiovascular disease. Interviews were transcribed and subjected to content analysis. Two overarching dimensions emerged, depicting positive and negative effects on the marriage. Ongoing care for cardiac patients should include a focus on spousal caregivers, supporting both members of the couple as they jointly face challenges engendered by the illness.
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Pretter et al. (2014) studied this question.
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