Psychological distress was present in 57% of congestive heart failure patients and 40% of their spouses, with distress levels negatively correlating with marital quality for both partners.
Cross-Sectional (n=354)
Do role and gender differences affect psychological distress and marital quality in couples coping with congestive heart failure?
Psychological distress is highly prevalent in CHF patients and their spouses, with role and gender differences significantly influenced by marital quality.
Absolute Event Rate: 57% vs 40%
Psychological distress and marital quality were assessed with male (n = 128) and female (n = 49) congestive-heart-failure (CHF) patients and their spouses. Hopkins Symptom Check List--25 scores were in the distressed range for 57% of patients and 40% of spouses. This role difference was greater for men than for women, and a gender difference (more distress in women than men) was greater for spouses than for patients. The patient's distress, but not the spouse's, reflected the severity of the patient's illness, and distress for both partners correlated negatively with ratings of marital quality. Female-patient couples reported better relationship quality than male-patient couples, however, and a mediation analysis indicated that the gender difference in spouse distress could be explained by marital quality. Results highlight the contextual nature of CHF distress and suggest that role differences in distress vary by gender.
Rohrbaugh et al. (Tue,) conducted a cross-sectional in Congestive heart failure (n=354). Patient role (having congestive heart failure) vs. Spouse role was evaluated on Psychological distress (Hopkins Symptom Check List-25 scores in the distressed range). Psychological distress was present in 57% of congestive heart failure patients and 40% of their spouses, with distress levels negatively correlating with marital quality for both partners.
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