For couples coping with debilitating disease, those who cope with problems together had less psychological distress and better relationships.
This is according to a study – ‘Interpersonal Process of Dyadic Coping in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Perspective From the Australian Rheumatology Association Database’ by Manasi M. Mittinty, Murthy N. Mittinty, Rachelle Buchbinder, Marissa Lassere, Vibhasha Chand, Samuel Whittle, Lyn March and Catherine Hill – that was published in The Journal of Rheumatology.
The study, which eyed to examine dyadic coping, tapped 163 couples, checking how they engage in joint problem solving, joint information gathering, or the sharing of feelings and mutual commitment.
The researchers wanted to specifically focus on those with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an autoimmune condition that can cause irreversible tissue damage, progressive deformity and pain. Approximately 18 million people worldwide are living with RA.
“Dyadic coping, the process of coping that transpires between couples challenged by one partner’s illness, is an important predictor of disease adjustment and patient well-being,” said lead author Manasi M. Mittinty. “Dyadic coping contributes to a sense of togetherness, encouraging couples to develop strategies as a unit to respond to stressful events, and it represents a protective factor for minimising the risk of divorce.”
She added: “Working together as a couple is crucial for managing the challenges they face when one partner has an illness, particularly in rheumatoid arthritis.”
Although management of RA has improved dramatically due to biologics, some patients are still confronted by severe physical pain and stiffness and about 35% of people report experiencing mental and behavioural conditions, such as bipolar disorder, mania and anxiety disorder.
“We found that supportive dyadic coping leads to lower depression, anxiety, and stress for patients, as well as improved relationship quality. In contrast, negative dyadic coping increases psychological distress and reduces relationship quality for both partners,” said Mittinty.
“By examining the interpersonal dynamics of couples grappling with chronic disease, we hope to significantly improve the quality of life for patients living with rheumatoid arthritis and their spouse.”
For the researchers, the results of the study “underscore the interconnected nature of dyadic coping, highlighting the need to consider both viewpoints in understanding its impact on couples.”
For decades, they added, the focus has been limited to reducing patients’ illness-related distress and improving patient outcomes. More recently, scientists have adopted a new approach into understanding how illness in a spouse can affect the couple’s relationship and the other spouse’s well-being.
“(The) findings demonstrate the reciprocal nature of dyadic coping that transpires between patients with RA and their spouses and showcases that integrating dyadic coping training in disease management may be a valuable resource for enhanced mental health outcomes and relationship quality of couples,” Mittinty ended.
