Determinants of diet-related support provision between patients with type 2 diabetes and their spouses
Abstract
This study investigated determinants of diet-related support using Dunkel-Schetter and Skokan's (1990) multifactorial model. For patients with type 2 diabetes and their spouses (N = 56 couples), each partner's attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance was conceptualized as provider and recipient factors, marital satisfaction was examined as relationship factor, diet adherence and HbA1c were explored as stress factors. Spouses' own attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance, as well as patients' diet adherence were found to be predictors of spouses' diet-related support provision. In addition, findings revealed that patients with type 2 diabetes promote healthy eating habits of their spouses through diet-related support. Patients' marital satisfaction and spouses' following a healthy eating plan were associated with patients' provision of diet-related support to their spouses. Findings of this study support the perspective that provision of support is multiply determined and extend beyond characteristics of the provider to include the broader relational context of patients and their spouses.
Degree
Ph.D.
Advisors
Franks, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Behavioral psychology|Clinical psychology
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