TY - JOUR
T1 - Declines in satisfaction with physical intimacy predict caregiver perceptions of overall relationship loss
T2 - A study of elderly caregiving spousal dyads
AU - Svetlik, Doris
AU - Dooley, W. Keith
AU - Weiner, Myron F.
AU - Williamson, Gail M.
AU - Walters, Andrew S.
N1 - Funding Information:
∗Research reported in this paper was supported by the National Institute on Aging (AG15321, G. M. Williamson, principal investigator). Manuscript preparation was facilitated by a fellowship from the Institute for Behavioral Research at the University of Georgia to G. M. Williamson and by P3012300. Partial support at UT Southwestern was provided by NIA P30AG12300. 1Department of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390. 2Department of Psychology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602. 3Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390. 4Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011–5106. 5Address correspondence to: Myron F. Weiner, M.D., UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390-9129; e-mail: [email protected].
PY - 2005/6
Y1 - 2005/6
N2 - The extent to which sense of overall relationship loss (feeling less happy or emotionally close) is predicted by declines in satisfaction with opportunities for affectionate physical contact and sexual intimacy was investigated in 136 caregivers of physically and/or cognitively impaired elderly spouses. Changes in satisfaction and relationship loss were unrelated to demographic factors. Older caregivers and those with more cognitively impaired spouses evaluated their own physical health less favorably, but caregiver health was unrelated to declines in satisfaction with physical intimacy or relationship loss. The only significant predictor of declines in satisfaction was providing more care; the only significant predictor of more perceived relationship loss was greater decline in satisfaction with opportunities for affectionate physical contact and sexual intimacy. Thus, decrements in health have minimal influence on caregiver perceptions of loss in relationship quality - as long as they do not result in losses in satisfaction with physical intimacy.
AB - The extent to which sense of overall relationship loss (feeling less happy or emotionally close) is predicted by declines in satisfaction with opportunities for affectionate physical contact and sexual intimacy was investigated in 136 caregivers of physically and/or cognitively impaired elderly spouses. Changes in satisfaction and relationship loss were unrelated to demographic factors. Older caregivers and those with more cognitively impaired spouses evaluated their own physical health less favorably, but caregiver health was unrelated to declines in satisfaction with physical intimacy or relationship loss. The only significant predictor of declines in satisfaction was providing more care; the only significant predictor of more perceived relationship loss was greater decline in satisfaction with opportunities for affectionate physical contact and sexual intimacy. Thus, decrements in health have minimal influence on caregiver perceptions of loss in relationship quality - as long as they do not result in losses in satisfaction with physical intimacy.
KW - Caregiver
KW - Disability
KW - Health
KW - Relationship
KW - Sexuality
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U2 - 10.1007/s11195-005-4670-7
DO - 10.1007/s11195-005-4670-7
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:23744463259
SN - 0146-1044
VL - 23
SP - 65
EP - 79
JO - Sexuality and Disability
JF - Sexuality and Disability
IS - 2
ER -