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Chronic low back pain patient and spouse
S Saarijärvi1, M T Hyyppä, V Lehtinen
1Rehabilitation Research Centre of the Social Insurance Institution, Turku, Finland.
Journal of Psychosomatic Research
|January 1, 1990
Summary
Chronic low back pain (CLBP) patients report more somatization and guilt than their spouses. Spouses of CLBP patients exhibit more external health locus of control, while patients show more internal control.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Sociology
Background:
- Chronic low back pain (CLBP) significantly impacts patients' lives and relationships.
- Understanding the psychosocial factors and health attitudes in CLBP patients and their spouses is crucial for comprehensive care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare marital adjustment, psychological distress, health attitudes, and pain symptoms between CLBP patients and their spouses.
- To investigate differences in somatization, guilt, and locus of control within couples affected by CLBP.
Main Methods:
- A comparative study involving 63 individuals with chronic low back pain and their respective spouses.
- Assessment of psychological distress, health attitudes, and musculoskeletal pain symptoms using standardized methods.
Main Results:
- CLBP patients exhibited significantly higher somatization and feelings of guilt compared to their spouses.
- Patients reported greater internal locus of control regarding health, whereas spouses leaned towards external locus of control.
- Female spouses reported more neck and shoulder pain symptoms than male spouses; however, pain prevalence did not differ by sex within the CLBP patient group.
Conclusions:
- CLBP affects not only the patient but also influences the psychological and health-related perceptions of their spouses.
- The distinct locus of control orientations between patients and spouses may have implications for treatment adherence and coping strategies.
- Further research comparing these findings to broader population studies is warranted.