Couple's Relationship with Diabetes: Transformation, Partnership, and Management

This study used an MFT perspective to examine a model of three bio-psychosocial constructs, seeking to depict key dimensions of what makes couples successful in managing the demanding self-care regimen of diabetes. The model includes a meaning and emotion-oriented construct called relationship with diabetes, a psychosocial relational construct of diabetes-specific partnering support, and their direct and indirect effects on an endogenous construct of success in diabetes management. Surveys from 118 adult couples with diabetes provided data to test the hypothesized path and measurement model. Correlational and multiple regression analysis examined variable relationships, factor analysis examined construct dimensionality, and structural equation modeling determined the model's goodness of fit. It was found that relationship with diabetes and partnering support are positively associated and have direct and indirect effects promoting successful diabetes management. The emotion component of relationship with diabetes was especially important to management success. The current quantitative study extends and tests grounded theory from a previous qualitative study. Outcomes from this study expand our current understanding of how couples manage chronic illness and highlight the importance of developing a multidisciplinary approach to diabetes research, education, and intervention.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Counseling and Family Sciences

Year

2012

Author dc:creator

• Barrett, Ruth Houston

Contributors dc:contributor

• Wilson, Colwick
• Fox, Curtis A.
• Knudson-Martin, Carmen
• Lister
• Zephon
• Riggs, Matt

• Marriage and Family Therapy and Counseling
• Diabetes-Milletus; Interpersonal Relationships; Couples Therapy; Marriage Counseling;
• Bio-psychosocial Constructs
• Couples
• Diabetes Management
• Partnering Support
• Relationship with Diabetes

Statement dc:rights

• This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/73

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarsrepository.llu.edu:etd-1072