The helping process in couples during recovery from heart attack

A single case study

Bibliographic Data

ID9617602
AuthorsNancy Pistrang (0000-0002-7872-8152, University College London, corresponding author), L Clare (0000-0003-3989-5318, University College London), Chris Baker (0000-0001-7572-1871, University College London)
Year1999
Volume72
Issue2
Pages227-237
Publication date1999-06-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueBritish Journal of Medical Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0007-1129 • E-ISSN: 2056-5194
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1348/000711299159970
PMID10397427
OpenAlexW1983628801
LanguageEN
Citations received4

This single case study aimed to illustrate help‐intended communication in couples, in particular how a husband and wife attempted to help each other with adjusting to the husband' s recent myocardial infarction. The study employed a semi‐structured communication task to gather samples of the couple's helping interactions: the couple had two conversations in which they alternated helper and discloser roles. Quantitative and qualitative data were obtained from the couple and from expert raters (observers) about their perspectives of the conversations. The observers' ratings and verbal response mode patterns indicated that the conversations were characterized by low levels of empathy and exploration of feelings and relatively high levels of helper disclosure and advice; overall, the observers found the conversations to be somewhat unhelpful. In contrast, the couple rated the conversations more positively; the ' helpful events' they identified consisted of their partner disclosing a new piece of information and giving advice. The results were discussed in terms of the unique features of helping in close relationships

Process (computing) · Cardiac Health and Mental Health · Computer Science · Family and Patient Care in Intensive Care Units · Psychology · Social Psychology

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