Marital Adjustment to Adult Diabetes: Interpersonal Congruence and Spouse Satisfaction

Abstract

This study investigates adjustment to insulintreated diabetes among 20 adult patients and their spouses; sex is balanced for patients and spouses. Using a multimethod (qualitative and quantitative) research design, the authors examine several psychosocial factors, including attitudes and knowledge about diabetes, illness self-disclosure, health locus of control of patients and spouses, and marital satisfaction of spouses. Illness-related perceptions of patients and spouses are positively correlated and discrepancies decrease with increasing duration of marriage after diagnosis. Marital satisfaction of spouses is negatively related to their knowledge about diabetes, perception of patient secretiveness, illness difficulty and severity, and discrepancies with patient attitudes. Also examined are the positive adaptations to diabetes. These findings support and extend the Hill ABCX model of family adjustment to stress.