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Originalia

Close Relationship and Chronic Illness

The Interrelations Between Illness Perceptions and Social Support

Published Online:October 23, 2014https://doi.org/10.1026/0943-8149/a000127

Abstract

The aims of this study were (1) to explore the degree of concordance/discordance between the illness perceptions of patients with a chronic illness and those of their partners, and (2) to examine the relationship between the concordance/discordance of couples’ illness perceptions and social support exchange processes. In a cross-sectional study, 119 chronic patients and their partners completed questionnaires assessing their illness perceptions (IPQ-R) as well as the social support received by the patients and that provided by the partners (BSSS). The degree of concordance between the illness perceptions of patients and partners was assessed and related to received and provided social support. The concordance between patients’ and partners’ illness perceptions regarding the patient’s chronic illness was quite high. In general, in couples with negative-concordant illness perceptions, more social support was received and provided than in couples with positive-concordant illness perceptions and in couples with discordant illness perceptions. Most of the differences between groups were found for informational social support. Findings indicate that the concordance of illness perceptions between patients and their partners is related to social support exchange processes. This demonstrates the importance of the involvement of patients’ partners in the process of diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation.

Das Anliegen der vorliegenden Studie war es, das Ausmaß an Konkordanz/Diskordanz zwischen den subjektiven Krankheitskonzepten von Patient(inn)en mit einer chronischen Erkrankung und ihren Partner(inn)en zu erfassen sowie die Zusammenhänge zwischen der Konkordanz/Diskordanz der dyadischen Krankheitskonzepte und dem Austausch sozialer Unterstützung zu untersuchen. In einem querschnittlichen Design wurden 119 chronisch kranke Personen und ihre Partner(inn)en befragt. Via Fragebogen wurden die subjektiven Krankheitskonzepte beider Personen (IPQ-R) sowie bei Patient(inn)en die erhaltene und bei Partner(inn)en die gegebene soziale Unterstützung erfasst. Für jedes Paar wurde die Konkordanz der Krankheitskonzepte berechnet und Zusammenhänge mit der erhaltenen und gegebenen sozialen Unterstützung analysiert. Die subjektiven Krankheitskonzepte der untersuchten Paare wiesen insgesamt ein hohes Maß an Konkordanz auf. Paare mit konkordanten negativen Krankheitskonzepten berichteten über mehr erhaltene und gegebene soziale Unterstützung als Paare mit konkordanten positiven oder diskordanten Krankheitskonzepten. Unterschiede zeigten sich insbesondere bei informationeller sozialer Unterstützung. Die Ergebnisse geben Hinweise auf Zusammenhänge zwischen der Konkordanz dyadischer Krankheitskonzepte und sozialen Unterstützungsprozessen. Dies wiederum verweist auf die Notwendigkeit, die Partner(inn)en chronisch Kranker bei der Diagnose, Behandlung und Rehabilitation einzubeziehen.

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