Indian Journal of Health and Wellbeing

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access
Open Access Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Restricted Access Subscription Access

Marital and Sexual Satisfaction, Depression, Anxiety and Stress among Wives of Patients with Chronic Illnesses


Affiliations
1 Ph.D Scholar, Department of Psychology Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, Maharashtra, India
2 Professor, Department of Psychology Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, Maharashtra, India
     

   Subscribe/Renew Journal


To explore the psychological health, as well as the levels of marital and sexual satisfaction, of wives of patients with a chronic illness. The sample consisted of 34 women, whose husbands were diagnosed with, and were undergoing treatment for a chronic illness (Coronary Heart Disease (CHD), Diabetes; or Cancer). Correlational and comparative analysis were conducted on the data. Clinically significant marital and sexual dissatisfaction were found. Wives reported moderate levels of depression and anxiety, but severe levels of stress. Depression and Sexual satisfaction were found to be significant predictors of marital satisfaction. Wives are impacted by the illness status of their spouse. The additional stress of caregiving, along with societally ascribed roles and responsibilities on women creates a more difficult, stressful environment, which affects the relationship satisfaction as well as psychological health and well-being.

Keywords

marital satisfaction, sexual satisfaction, depression, anxiety, stress, wives of patients, chronic illness
Subscription Login to verify subscription
User
Notifications
Font Size


  • Akbari, F., & Dehghani, M. (2017). Pain in the context of family: A study on factors contributing to marital satisfaction among couples suffering from chronic pain. Iranian Journal of Public Health, 46(7), 964.

  • Barnett, R. C., & Hyde, J. S. (2001). Women, men, work, and family: An expansionist theory. American Psychologist, 56(10), 781.

  • Barusch, A. S., & Spaid, W. M. (1989). Gender differences in caregiving: Why do wives report greater burden. The Gerontologist, 29, 667-676.

  • Beach, S. R. H., Katz, J., Kim, S., & Brody, G. H. (2003). Prospective effects of marital satisfaction on depressive symptoms in established marriages: A dyadic model. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 20, 355-371.

  • Beach, S. R., Sandeen, E., & O'Leary, K. D. (1990). Depression in marriage: A model for etiology and treatment. Guilford Press.

  • Beach, S., & O'Leary, K. (1986). The treatment of depression occurring in the context of marital discord. Behavior Therapy, 17(1), 43-49.

  • Beach, S., Arias, I., & O'Leary, K. (1986). The relationship of marital satisfaction and social support to depressive symptomatology. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 8(4), 305-316.

  • Bianchi, S. M., Milkie, M. A., Sayer, L. C., & Robinson, J. P. (2000). Is anyone doing the housework? Trends in the gender division of household labor. Social Forces, 79(1), 191-228.

  • Brännlund, A., & Hammarström, A. (2013). Higher education and psychological distress: A 27-year prospective cohort study in Sweden. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, 42(2), 155-162. https://doi.org/10.1177/1403494813511559

  • Cohen, D., & Eisdorfer, C. (2001). The loss of self: A family resource for the care of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders. WW Norton and Company.

  • Coltrane, S. (2000). Research on household labor: Modeling and measuring the social embeddedness of routine family work. Journal of Marriage and Family, 62(4), 1208-1233.

  • Couper, J., Bloch, S., Love, A., Macvean, M., Duchesne, G. M., & Kissane, D. (2006). Psychosocial adjustment of female partners of men with prostate cancer: A review of the literature. Psycho-Oncology, 15(11), 937-953.

  • Cutler, D. M., & Lleras-Muney, A. (2006). Education and health: Evaluating theories and evidence (No. w12352). National bureau of economic research. University of Michigan.

  • Davila, J., Bradbury, T. N., Cohan, C. L., & Tochluk, S. (1997). Marital functioning and depressive symptoms: Evidence for a stress generation model. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 73(4), 849.

  • Davis, M. C., Matthews, K. A., & Twamley, E. W. (1999). Is life more difficult on Mars or Venus? A meta-analytic review of sex differences in major and minor life events. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 21(1), 83-97.

  • Dey, S., & Ghosh, J. (2016). Impact of women's employment on marital relationship. Bangladesh Research Publications Journal, 12, 22-27.

  • Edwards, J. N., & Booth, A. (1994). Sexuality, marriage, and well-being: The middle years. In A. S. Rossi (Ed.), Sexuality across the life course (pp. 233 259). University of Chicago Press.

  • Eriksson, E., Wejåker, M., Danhard, A., Nilsson, A., & Kristofferzon, M. L. (2019). Living with a spouse with chronic illness the challenge of balancing demands and resources. BMC Public Health, 19(1), 422.

  • Fitzpatrick, K. E., & Vacha-Haase, T. (2010). Marital satisfaction and resilience in caregivers of spouses with dementia. Clinical Gerontologist, 33(3), 165-180.

  • Foa, E. B., Grayson, J. B., & Steketee, G. (1982). Depression, habituation and treatment outcome in obsessive-compulsives. In J. C. Boulougouris (Ed.), Practical applications of learning theories in psychiatry. Wiley.

  • Foa, E. B., Grayson, J. B., Steketee, G., & Doppelt, H. G. (1983). Treatment of obsessive-compulsives: When do we fall? In E. B. Foa and P. M. G. Emmelkamp (Eds.), Failures in behavior therapy. Wiley.

  • Fryers, T., Melzer, D., & Jenkins, R. (2003). Social inequalities and the common mental disorders. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 38(5), 229-237.

  • Gilligan, C. (1982). In a different voice. Harvard University Press.

  • Haavio-Mannila, E., & Kontula, O. (1997). Correlates of increased sexual satisfaction. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 26(4), 399-419.

  • Hafstrom, J. L., & Schram, V. R. (1984). Chronic illness in couples: Selected characteristics, including wife's satisfaction with and perception of marital relationships. Family Relations, 33(1), 195-203.

  • Henderson-King, D. H., & Veroff, J. (1994). Sexual satisfaction and marital well-being in the first years of marriages. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 11, 509-534.

  • Hollist, C. S., Miller, R. B., Falceto, O. G., & Fernandes, C. L. C. (2007). Marital satisfaction and depression: A replication of the marital discord model in a Latino sample. Family Process, 46(4), 485-498.

  • Hori, M. (2017). Full-time employment and marital satisfaction among women in East Asian societies. Comparative Sociology, 16(6), 771-787.

  • Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K., & Newton, T. (2001). Marriage and health: His and hers. Psychological Bulletin, 127, 472-503.

  • Koran, L. M. (2000). Quality of life in obsessive-compulsive disorder. Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 23, 509-517.

  • Krongrad, A., Lai, H., Burke, M. A., Goodkin, K., & Lai, S. (1996). Marriage and mortality in prostate cancer. The Journal of Urology, 156(5), 1696-1700.

  • Lawrance, K., & Byers, E. (1995). Sexual satisfaction in long-term heterosexual relationships: The interpersonal exchange model of sexual satisfaction. Personal Relationships, 2(4), 267-285.

  • Lewis, R. A., & Spanier, G. B. (1979). Theorizing about the quality and stability of marriage. in W. R. Burr, R. Hill, F.I. Nye, and I.L. Reiss (Eds.), Contemporary theories about the family (pp. 268-294). New-York Free press, New York.

  • Litzinger, S., & Gordon, K. C. (2005). Exploring relationships among communication, sexual satisfaction, and marital satisfaction. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 31(5), 409-424.

  • Marks, S. R., & MacDermid, S. M. (1996). Multiple roles and the self: A theory of role balance. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 58(2), 417-432.

  • Min, J., Yorgason, J. B., Fast, J., & Chudyk, A. (2019). The impact of spouse's illness on depressive symptoms: The roles of spousal caregiving and marital satisfaction. The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 75(7), 1548-1557.

  • Mirzaei, M., Ardekani, S. M. Y., Mirzaei, M., & Dehghani, A. (2019). Prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress among adult population: Results of Yazd health study. Iranian Journal of Psychiatry, 14(2), 137.

  • Mohan, S., & Reddy, S. (2014). Chronic diseases in India: Burden and implications. Cgd.swissre.com. Retrieved 23 September 2016, from http://cgd.swissre.com/risk_dialogue_magazine/Cardiovascular_risks_in_HGM/Chronic_Diseases_in_India_Burden_and_Implications.html

  • Mohan, S., Reddy, K. S., & Prabhakaran, D. (2011). Chronic non-communicable diseases in India: Reversing the tide. Public Health Foundation of India.

  • Moore, G. (1990). Structural determinants of men's and women's personal networks. American Sociological Review, 55(5), 726-735.

  • Murasko, J. E. (2007). A life-course study on education and health: The relationship between childhood psychosocial resources and outcomes in adolescence and young adulthood. Social Science Research, 36(4), 1348-1370.

  • Oggins, J., Veroff, J., & Leber, D. (1993). Race and gender differences in black and white newlyweds' perceptions of sexual and marital relations. Journal of Sex Research, 30(2), 152-160.

  • Patel, V., Chatterji, S., Chisholm, D., Ebrahim, S., Gopalakrishna, G., Mathers, C., & Reddy, K. S. (2011). Chronic diseases and injuries in India. The Lancet, 377(9763), 413-428.

  • Pearlin, L. I., Mullan, J. T., Semple, S. J., Skaff, M. M. (1990). Caregiving and the stress process: An overview of concepts and their measures. The Gerontologist, 30, 583594.

  • Pinquart, M., & Sörensen, S. (2003). Differences between caregivers and non-caregivers in psychological health and physical health: A meta-analysis. Psychology and Aging, 18(2), 250-267. https://doi.org/10.1037/0882-7974.18.2.250

  • Pinquart, M., & Sörensen, S. (2006). Gender differences in caregiver stressors, social resources, and health: An updated meta-analysis. The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 61(1), 33-45.

  • Pinquart, M., & Sörensen, S. (2001). Gender differences in self-concept and psychological well-being in old age: A meta-analysis. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 56B, 195-213.

  • Porto, R. (2013). The impact of premature ejaculation on quality of life of the patient, the partner and the couple. Sexologies, 22(3), 65-70.

  • Pruchno, A., & Potashnik, S. L. (1989). Caregiving spouses: Physical and mental health in perspective. Journal of the American Geriatric Society, 37, 697-705.

  • Revenson, T. A. (1994). Social support and marital coping with chronic illness. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 16(2), 122-130.

  • Ross, C. E. (1987). The division of labor at home. Social Forces, 47, 816-833.

  • Ross, C. E., Mirowsky, J., & Goldsteen, K. (1990). The impact of the family on health: The decade in review. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 52(4), 1059-1078.

  • Sampson, R. J., Laub, J. H., & Wimer, C. (2006). Does marriage reduce crime? A counterfactual approach to within-individual causal effects. Criminology, 44(3), 465-508.

  • Schulz, R., & Sherwood, P. R. (2008) Physical and mental health effects of family caregiving. Journal of Social Work Education, 44(3), 105-113. https://doi.org/10.5175/JSWE.2008.773247702

  • Sheehan, N. W., & Nuttell, P. (1988). Conflict, emotion, and personal strain among family caregivers. Family Relations, 37, 92-98.

  • Stenberg, U., Ruland, C. M., & Miaskowski, C. (2009). Review of the literature on the effects of caring for a patient with cancer. Psycho-Oncology, 19(10), 1013-1025. https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.1670

  • Thoits, P. A. (1983). Multiple identities and psychological well-being: A reformulation and test of the social isolation hypothesis. American Sociological Review, 48(2), 174-187.

  • Thoman-Touet, S. K. (1992). A qualitative study of the effect of chronic illness on marital quality. (Doctoral dissertation, Iowa State University). Available from ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global database. (UMI No. 9311536).

  • Townsend, A. L., & Franks, M. M. (1997). Quality of the relationship between elderly spouses: Influence on spouse caregivers' subjective effectiveness. Family Relations, 46(1), 33-39.

  • Tuinman, M. A., Fleer, J., Sleijfer, D. T., Hoekstra, H. J., & Hoekstra-Weebers, J. E. (2005). Marital and sexual satisfaction in testicular cancer survivors and their spouses. Supportive Care in Cancer, 13(7), 540-548.

  • Vitaliano, P. P., Scanlan, J. M., & Zhang, J. (2003). Is caregiving hazardous to ones physical health? A meta-analysis. PsycEXTRA Dataset, 129(6), 946-972. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.129.6.946

  • Weihs, K., Enright, T., Howe, G., & Simmens, S. J. (1999). Marital satisfaction and emotional adjustment after breast cancer. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, 17(1), 33-49.

  • Weissman, M. M. (1987). Advances in psychiatric epidemiology: Rates and risks for major depression. American Journal of Public Health, 77(4), 445-451.

  • Whisman, M. A., & Uebelacker, L. A. (2009). Prospective associations between marital discord and depressive symptoms in middle-aged and older adults. Psychology and Aging, 24, 184-189.

  • Wilk, P. (2001). Women's employment transitions and changes in psychological distress. Canadian Studies in Population (Archives), 28, 513-533.

  • World Health Organization (2005). Preventing chronic diseases: A vital investment:

  • WHO global report. (http://www.who.int/chp/chronic_disease_report/fu ll_report.pdf)

  • World Health Organization ( 2018). Noncommunicable diseases country profiles.World Health Organization. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/274512. License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO

  • Zhou, E. S., Kim, Y., Rasheed, M., Benedict, C., Bustillo, N. E., Soloway, M., & Penedo, F. J. (2011). Marital satisfaction of advanced prostate cancer survivors and their spousal caregivers: The dyadic effects of physical and mental health. Psycho-Oncology, 20(12), 1353-1357.


Abstract Views: 465

PDF Views: 1




  • Marital and Sexual Satisfaction, Depression, Anxiety and Stress among Wives of Patients with Chronic Illnesses

Abstract Views: 465  |  PDF Views: 1

Authors

Daanesh M. Umrigar
Ph.D Scholar, Department of Psychology Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, Maharashtra, India
Rajendra Mhaske
Professor, Department of Psychology Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, Maharashtra, India

Abstract


To explore the psychological health, as well as the levels of marital and sexual satisfaction, of wives of patients with a chronic illness. The sample consisted of 34 women, whose husbands were diagnosed with, and were undergoing treatment for a chronic illness (Coronary Heart Disease (CHD), Diabetes; or Cancer). Correlational and comparative analysis were conducted on the data. Clinically significant marital and sexual dissatisfaction were found. Wives reported moderate levels of depression and anxiety, but severe levels of stress. Depression and Sexual satisfaction were found to be significant predictors of marital satisfaction. Wives are impacted by the illness status of their spouse. The additional stress of caregiving, along with societally ascribed roles and responsibilities on women creates a more difficult, stressful environment, which affects the relationship satisfaction as well as psychological health and well-being.

Keywords


marital satisfaction, sexual satisfaction, depression, anxiety, stress, wives of patients, chronic illness

References