Demoralization and Illness‐Related Communication Among Individuals With Cardiac Disease

A Dyadic Analysis

Datos Bibliográficos

ID21320006
AutoresWafaa Sowan (0000-0002-5480-3939, School of Social Work, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences University of Haifa Haifa Israel, autor de correspondencia), Rania Ali Saleh (School of Social Work, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences University of Haifa Haifa Israel), Romain Jammal-Abboud (0000-0003-1773-2913, Zefat Academic College), Romain Jammal Abboud (School of Social Work, Faculty of Social Sciences Zefat Academic College Zefat Israel), Limor Ilan Bushari (Cardiology Division Emek Medical Center Afula Israel)
Año2026
Volumen65
Número3
Páginase70171-e70171
Fecha de publicación2026-09-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaFamily Process (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0014-7370 • E-ISSN: 1545-5300
EditorialWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/famp.70171
PMID42403270
OpenAlexW7167495716
IdiomaEN
Referencias citadas51

Chronic cardiac illness often places substantial psychological and relational strain on patients and their intimate partners. Demoralization, a state of hopelessness, low coping efficacy, and perceived incompetence, can emerge in both partners, particularly when illness‐related communication is ineffective. Understanding how couples communicate about the illness is therefore critical for supporting each partner's mental health. This study examined how illness‐related communication is associated with demoralization in couples in which the male partner has a cardiac disease. Specifically, we investigated how each partner's communication relates to their own and their partner's experiences of demoralization (actor and partner effects). A cross‐sectional study was conducted with 117 heterosexual couples ( N = 234 individuals) in which the male partner was enrolled in a cardiac rehabilitation program in Israel. Dyadic analysis using the actor‐partner interdependence model (APIM) was employed. Results indicated that 19% of male patients and 17% of female partners met criteria for demoralization. Dyadic analysis revealed significant actor and partner effects, indicating that both an individual's own and their partner's effective communication were associated with lower demoralization. Sex moderated these effects: female partners benefited primarily from their own communication, whereas male patients benefited from their partner's communication. These findings suggest that integrating structured dyadic communication training into cardiac rehabilitation programs may reduce demoralization and improve psychological adjustment among couples coping with chronic illness

Coping (psychology) · Interpersonal relationship · Mental illness · Partner effects · Self-disclosure · Social support · Attachment and Relationship Dynamics · Cardiac Health and Mental Health · Family and Patient Care in Intensive Care Units · Rehabilitation