Asthma Patients and Their Partners: Gender Differences in the Relationship Between Psychological Distress and Patient Functioning

• Published in: The Journal of asthma Vol. 37; no. 2; pp. 153 - 161
• Main Authors: Afari, Niloofar, Schmaling, Karen B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Informa UK Ltd 01-01-2000; Taylor & Francis; Informa Healthcare
• Subjects: Adult; Asthma; Asthma - diagnosis; Asthma - physiopathology; Asthma - psychology; Biological and medical sciences; Bronchial Provocation Tests; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma; Female; Gender; Health functioning; Health Services - utilization; Health Status Indicators; Healthcare utilization; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Pneumology; Psychological distress; Severity of Illness Index; Sex Factors; Sexual Partners; Stress, Psychological; Human; Distress behavior; Comparison measurement; Health center; Methodology; Respiratory disease; Psychological difficulty; Use; Sex; Perception; Obstructive pulmonary disease; Asthma
• ISSN: 0277-0903; 1532-4303
• DOI: 10.3109/02770900009055438

This study investigated gender differences in the association between partners' psychological functioning, and patients' perceptions of health functioning and healthcare utilization. Participants were 50 couples in which one person had mild to moderate asthma. Patients and partners completed several questionnaires. Male patients reported significantly greater psychological distress and utilized fewer physician services than female patients. Furthermore, female patients' perceptions of health functioning and their physician utilization were negatively affected by their partners' psychological distress. The findings suggest a need for an interdisciplinary approach to asthma management and the possible inclusion of partners in treatment, especially for female patients.