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Updated: Jul 7, 2026
04:24
A Novel Digital Platform for a Monitored Home-based Cardiac Rehabilitation Program
Published on: April 19, 2019
Demoralization and Illness-Related Communication Among Individuals With Cardiac Disease: A Dyadic Analysis
Wafaa Sowan1, Rania Ali Saleh1, Romain Jammal Abboud2
1School of Social Work, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel.
Family Process
|July 6, 2026
Summary
Effective couple communication significantly reduces demoralization in partners coping with chronic cardiac illness. Both individual and partner communication styles impact psychological well-being, with tailored communication strategies offering key benefits.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Cardiology
- Health Communication
Background:
- Chronic cardiac illness imposes significant psychological and relational burdens on patients and partners.
- Ineffective communication about illness can exacerbate demoralization, characterized by hopelessness and low self-efficacy, in both individuals.
- Understanding couple communication dynamics is crucial for mental health support in chronic illness contexts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between illness-related communication and demoralization in couples where the male partner has cardiac disease.
- To investigate actor and partner effects of communication on each individual's and their partner's demoralization.
- To explore potential sex differences in how communication impacts demoralization within these couples.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 117 heterosexual couples (234 individuals) with male partners in cardiac rehabilitation.
- Dyadic analysis utilizing the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM).
- Assessment of demoralization criteria and illness-related communication patterns.
Main Results:
- 19% of male patients and 17% of female partners met criteria for demoralization.
- Significant actor and partner effects were found: effective communication by oneself and one's partner was linked to lower demoralization.
- Sex moderated these effects: female partners' own communication was key, while male patients benefited more from their partner's communication.
Conclusions:
- Effective dyadic communication is vital for mitigating demoralization in couples facing male cardiac illness.
- Integrating structured communication training into cardiac rehabilitation may enhance psychological adjustment for both patients and partners.
- Tailoring communication interventions based on sex may optimize benefits for couple well-being.
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