Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Reciprocity in the Expression of Emotional Support among Later-Life Couples Coping with Stroke

  • Chapter
Coping with Chronic Stress

Part of the book series: The Springer Series on Stress and Coping ((SSSO))

Abstract

One of the consequences of increased life expectancy is the growing likelihood that older adults will experience chronic illnesses or disabling conditions that can dramatically impact the quality of their own and their family members’ lives. Most older adults in the United States have at least one chronic health condition, and many have multiple chronic conditions (American Association of Retired Persons [AARP] & Administration on Aging [AoA], 1993). Nearly 30% of adults over the age of 65 and almost 60% of those over the age of 85 are limited in their activities of daily living due to health problems (AARP & AoA, 1993). In this chapter we focus on older adults who have experienced a recent stroke, particularly on how they and their caregiving spouses cope with its emotional aftermath.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Acitelli, L. K., and Antonucci, T. C. (1994). Gender differences in the link between marital support and satisfaction in older couples. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 67, 688–698.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • AmericanAssociation OF RetiredPersons (Aarp), ProgramResourcesDepartment, and Administration OF Aging (Aoa), U.S. Department OF HealthAndHumanServices. (1993). A profile of older Americans: 1993 [Report No. PF3049 (1293) - D9961. Washington, DC: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, T. B., and McCulloch, B. J. (1993). Conjugal support: Factor structure for older husbands and wives. Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 3, S133–142.

    Google Scholar 

  • Batson, C. D. (1991). The altruism question: Toward a social—psychological answer. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berkowitz, L. (1972). Social norms, feelings, and other factors affecting helping and altruism. In L. Berkowitz (Ed.), Advances in experimental social psychology (Vol. 6, pp. 63108 ). New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Binder, L. M., Howieson, D., and Coull, B. M. (1987). Stroke: Causes, consequences, and treatment. In B. Caplan (Ed.), Rehabilitation psychology desk reference. Rockville, MD: Aspen.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burke, R. J., Weir, T., and Harrison, D. (1976). Disclosure of problems and tensions experienced by marital partners. Psychological Reports, 38, 531–542.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burman, B., and Margolin, G. (1992). Analysis of the association between marital relationships and health problems: An interactional perspective. Psychological Bulletin, 112, 39–63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chappell, N. L. (1991). Living arrangements and sources of caregiving. Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 46, S1–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark, S. L., and Stephens, M. A. P. (1996). Stroke patients’ well-being as a function of caregiving spouses’ helpful and unhelpful actions. Personal Relationships, 3, 171–184.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cordova, J. V., Jacobson, N. S., Gottman, J. M., Rushe, R., and Cox, G. (1993). Negative reciprocity and communication in couples with a violent husband. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 102, 559–564.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coyne, J. C., and Fiske, V. (1992). Couples coping with chronic and catastrophic illness. In T. J. Akamatsu, M. A. P. Stephens, S. E. Hobfoll, and J. H. Crowther (Eds.), Family health psychology (pp. 129–149 ). Washington, DC: Hemisphere.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coyne, J. C., and Smith, D. A. K. (1991). Couples coping with a myocardial infarction: A contextual perspective on wives’ distress. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 61, 404–412.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dakof, G. A., and Taylor, S. E. ( 1990. Victims’ perceptions of social support: What is helpful from whom? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 58, 80–89.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davis, M. H., and Oathout, H. A. (1987). Maintenance of satisfaction in romantic relationships: Empathy and relational competence. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 53, 397–410.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Delongis, A., and O’Brien, T. (1990). An interpersonal framework for stress and coping: An application to the families of Alzheimer’s patients. In T. J. Akamatsu, M. A. P. Stephens, S. E. Hobfoll, and J. H. Crowther (Eds.), Family health psychology (pp. 221–239 ). Washington, DC: Hemisphere.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunkel-Schetter, C., Blasband, D. E., Feinstein, L. G., and Herbert, T. B. (1992). Elements of supportive interactions: When are attempts to help effective? In S. Spacapan and S. Oskamp (Eds.), Helping and being helped: Naturalistic studies (pp. 83–114 ). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flor, H., Turk, D. C., and Scholz, O. B. (1987). Impact of chronic pain on the spouse: Marital, emotional and physical consequences. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 31, 63–71.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gottlieb, B. H., and Wagner, F. (1991). Stress and support processes in close relationships. In J. Eckenrode (Ed.), The social context of coping (pp. 165–188 ). New York: Plenum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hansson, R. O., and Carpenter, B. N. (1994). Relationships in old age: Coping with the challenge of transition. New York: Guilford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ingersoll-Dayton, B., and Antonucci, T. C. (1988). Reciprocal and nonreciprocal social support: Contrasting sides of intimate relationships. Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 43, S65–73.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kerson, T. S., and Kerson, L. A. (1985). Understanding chronic illness: The medical and psychological dimensions of nine diseases. New York: Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lehman, D. R., Ellard, J. H., and Wortman, C. B. (1986). Social support for the bereaved: Recipients’ and providers’ perspectives on what is helpful. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 54, 438–446.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lehman, D. R., and Hemphill, K. J. (1990). Recipients’ perceptions of support attempts and attributions for support attempts that fail. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 7, 563–574.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Long, E. C. J., and Andrews, D. W. (1990). Perspective taking as a predictor of marital adjustment. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 59, 126–131.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mccaffrey, R. J., and Fisher, J. M. (1987). Cognitive, behavioral and psychosocial sequelae of cerebrovascular accidents and closed head injuries in older adults. In L. L. Carstensen and B. A. Edelstein (Eds.), Handbook of clinical gerontology (pp. 277–288 ). New York: Pergamon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Norris, V. K., Stephens, M. A. P., and Kinney, J. M. (1990). The impact of family interac- tions on recovery from stroke: Help or hindrance? The Gerontologist, 30, 535–542.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pagel, M. D., Erdly, W. W., and Becker, J. (1987). Social networks: We get by with (and in spite of) a little help from our friends. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 53, 793–804.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parsons, T. (1964). Social structure and personality. London: Collier-Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Primono, J., Yates, B. C., and Woods, N. F. (1990). Social support for women during chronic illness: The relationship among sources and types of adjustment. Research in Nursing and Health, 13, 153–161.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Revenson, T. A., and Majerovitz, D. (1990). Spouses’ support provision to chronically ill patients. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 7, 575–586.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rook, K. S. (1984). The negative side of social interactions: Impact on psychological wellbeing. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 46, 1097–1108.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rook, K. S. (1987). Reciprocity of social exchange and social satisfaction among older women. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 52, 145–154.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rook, K. S. (1990). Stressful aspects of older adults’ social relationships: Current theory and research. In M. A. P. Stephens, J. H. Crowther, S. E. Hobfoll, and D. L. Tennen-baum (Eds.), Stress and coping in later-life families (pp. 173–192 ). New York: Hemisphere.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rook, K., Dooley, D., and Catalano, R. (1991). Stress transmission: The effects of husbands’ job stressors on the emotional health of their wives. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 53, 165–177.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schulz, R., Tompkins, C. A., and Rau, M. T. (1988). A longitudinal study of the psychosocial impact of stroke on primary support persons. Psychology and Aging, 3, 131–141.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, D. A., Vivian, D., and O’Leary, K. D. (1991). The misnomer proposition: A critical reappraisal of the longitudinal status of “negativity” in marital communication. Behavioral Assessment, 13, 7–24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stephens, M. A. P., Kinney, J. M., Norris, V. K., and Ritchie, S. W. (1987). Social networks as assets and liabilities in recovery from stroke by geriatric patients. Psychology and Aging, 2, 125–129.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, S. C., Sobolew-Shubin, A. S., Graham, M. A., and Janigian, A. S. (1989). Psychosocial adjustment following a stroke. Social Science Medicine, 28, 239–247.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walster, E., Walster, G. W., and Berscheid, E. (1978). Equity: Theory and research. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, 44242-0001, USA

    Mary Ann Parris Stephens & Sarah L. Clark

Authors
  1. Mary Ann Parris Stephens
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sarah L. Clark
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Guelph, N1G 2W1, Guelph, Ontario, Canada

    Benjamin H. Gottlieb

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1997 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Stephens, M.A.P., Clark, S.L. (1997). Reciprocity in the Expression of Emotional Support among Later-Life Couples Coping with Stroke. In: Gottlieb, B.H. (eds) Coping with Chronic Stress. The Springer Series on Stress and Coping. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-9862-3_8

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-9862-3_8

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4757-9864-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4757-9862-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation