Implicit and explicit communal coping in couples with recently diagnosed type 2 diabetes

Abstract

When an individual in a close relationship is diagnosed with a chronic illness, coping can be the responsibility of the patient, or couple-members can cope communally. Communal coping reflects a shared appraisal of a stressor (our problem instead of my problem) and collaborative efforts to address the stressor. The current study examined whether patients’ and partners’ communal coping levels were associated with relational and health functioning among 70 couples in which one member was recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. We assessed explicit communal coping with self-reported “inclusion of the other in the self” in regard to diabetes management and implicit communal coping with first person plural pronoun usage during a diabetes discussion. We also assessed patient reports of support received from partners, patient and partner psychological distress, and patient self-care behavior. Results showed that patient explicit communal coping was related to better patient relationship quality and greater support receipt from partners. Patient and partner explicit communal coping also were related to reduced partner distress but not patient distress. Instead, partner implicit communal coping was related to reduced patient distress. Most noteworthy, partner implicit communal coping was related to better patient self-care behavior. These results suggest that communal coping may be beneficial for both relationships and health, but that the effects of explicit measures differ from those of implicit measures. Patients might benefit especially from partner communal coping efforts that are less obvious.

Couple identity and well-being in Chinese HIV serodiscordant couples: resilience under the risk of stigma

“…However, the contextual risk factor of stigma is not experienced by couples affected by chronic diseases such as cancer and heart diseases, highlighting the unique nature of HIV research. In line with previous studies that were dominantly conducted in Western cultures (Badr et al, 2016; Helgeson et al, 2017;Zajdel et al, 2018), our findings in Chinese HIV serodiscordant couples also demonstrate the protective role of couple identity. Moreover, the present study provides quantitative and longitudinal support for the long-existing clinical strategy of fostering couple identity to improve couple adjustment (Heinrichs et al, 2012;Montgomery et al, 2012;Reid, Dalton, Laderoute, Doell, & Nguyen, 2006) in the HIV context.…”

“…For example, Pomeroy and colleagues (2002) found that an intervention entailing the component of we-oriented coping with HIV improved the mental health of American heterosexual HIV serodiscordant couples. Our findings on the benefits of couple identity are also consistent with evidence in discordant couples living with other chronic diseases such as diabetes and cancer in other cultures that weness improved couple adjustment to illnesses (Badr et al, 2016;Helgeson, Jakubiak, Seltman, Hausmann, & Korytkowski, 2017;Zajdel et al, 2018). However, the contextual risk factor of stigma is not experienced by couples affected by chronic diseases such as cancer and heart diseases, highlighting the unique nature of HIV research.…”

“Man in the driving seat”: A grounded theory study of the psychosocial experiences of Black African and Black Caribbean men treated for prostate cancer and their partners

“…However, evidence from this study suggests that cultural values for BA/BC men to take responsibility for themselves and others may explain their preference for a solo approach to manage their CaP challenges without “sharing the burden” or appearing vulnerable. Seminal literature on coping identified this behaviour as “protective buffering,” which has been associated with elevated psychosocial distress among people living with chronic illnesses and their caregivers . Adopting active engagement through open communications and shared problem solving with partners could help men deal with the psychological distress associated with feelings of lessened masculinity and also improve spousal adjustment to sexual dysfunction after CaP treatment …”

“…Seminal literature on coping 30 identified this behaviour as "protective buffering," which has been associated with elevated psychosocial distress among people living with chronic illnesses and their caregivers. 31,32 Adopting active engagement 30 through open communications and shared problem solving with partners could help men deal with the psychological distress associated with feelings of lessened masculinity 33 and also improve spousal adjustment to sexual dysfunction after CaP treatment. 34 The reference of men in this study to "fatherhood" as a coping strategy also demonstrates their resilient determination to move on with life regardless of the perceived cultural implications of losing their sexual virility (effeminate…”

Influence of Relationship Partners on Self-Efficacy for Self-Management Behaviors Among Adults With Type 2 Diabetes

“…In addition, a focus group of 30 couples revealed that couples who felt they were “in this together” were better able to communicate and support each other and were more likely to engage in diabetes self-management behaviors ( 23 ). Helgeson et al ( 33 ) found that implicit communal coping, as measured by first-person plural pronoun usage during a diabetes discussion, related to a reduction in patient distress and improved diabetes self-care behaviors. Although these findings suggest a relationship between partner investment and health behaviors, more research is needed to examine the extent to which this process is mediated by self-efficacy ( 34 ).…”