Spousal Support and Relationship Happiness in Adults With Type 2 Diabetes and Their Spouses

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the association between the perceptions of spousal support self-efficacy in terms of dietary self-care and relationship happiness.

Methods: Forty-six couples, in which only one spouse has type 2 diabetes, completed questionnaires on perceptions of spousal support self-efficacy and relationship happiness.

Results: Using an actor‒partner interdependence model, we found that, when persons with type 2 diabetes were more confident in their spouse's ability to provide them with support regarding their dietary self-care, they reported more relationship happiness. We also found that, when their spouse without diabetes was more confident in their own abilities to provide such support to their partner, they reported more relationship happiness. However, the person with diabetes' confidence in their spouse's support abilities and the spouse's confidence in their own support abilities were not associated with the other partner's relationship happiness.

Conclusions: This study offers a unique dyadic perspective on the determinants of happiness for couples in which one spouse has type 2 diabetes. The perceived quality of spousal support appears to be associated with relationship happiness in committed couples managing diabetes, regardless of the actual support received or provided.

Keywords: actor‒partner interdependence model; auto-efficacité du soutien conjugal; auto-soins en matière d’alimentation; bonheur dans la relation; diabète de type 2; dietary self-care; modèle d’interdépendance acteur-partenaire; relationship happiness; spousal support self-efficacy; type 2 diabetes.