Couples' Daily Lives with Chronic Back Pain, 2021-2025

Purpose of the study: <br>
The majority of older Americans live with chronic health conditions and pain is the most common physical symptom experienced across conditions. For many older adults with chronic pain, the spouse is a key source of support and assistance; however, ongoing exposure to patients’ suffering is likely to take a toll on the health and well-being of these caregivers. Our recent research is based on prior work indicating that older spouses in a close marital relationship are more affected by their partner’s pain than spouses in a less close relationship. This intriguing finding supports the interpersonal model of elder caregiving and suggests a trade-off for older patients and spouses: is closeness good for the relationship but bad for spouses when patients are in more pain? We examined the daily and relational processes that underlie the impact of patients’ pain on spousal caregivers and their responses to patients, and how these processes influence longer-term outcomes for both partners.
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Participants: <br>
152 married or long-term cohabiting couples age 50 and above in which one partner reported experiencing moderate or severe chronic back pain for at least 3 months. The ability to speak English was a requirement for participation. Couples had been together for an average of 38.2 years. Participants were recruited through several online resources from anywhere in the United States. All couples were mixed sex. Ethnicity was 85% White, 6% Black, 1.6% Asian or Pacific Islander; 7% unknown; 3.3% of the sample was Hispanic. The mean age of the sample was 71.8 years for patients and 70.9 years for partners. 59% of patients and 60% of their partners had at least a college degree. Median household income fell in the range of $50,000-$75,000. We did not ask about religion.
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Type of data: <br>
Both partners separately completed a daily diary at the beginning and end of each day for 30 days using a computer tablet provided by the researchers. Participants also completed a standardized relationship survey administered over the telephone at 5 time points, beginning at intake and then repeated every 6 months for 2 years.
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Procedural Overview: <br>
Couples were recruited and screened online primarily through BuildClinical, ResearchMatch and the University of Pittsburgh Gerontology Center. Recruitment occurred between April 2021 and August 2023.
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Relationship surveys were conducted by video by trained interviewers. Interviews were conducted at approximately 6-month intervals. Available data are: Time1: 152 couples; Time2: 147 couples plus 3 individuals; T3: 140 couples plus 6 individuals; T4: 138 couples plus 7 individuals; T5: 140 couples plus 5 individuals.
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All diary assessments were completed on an electronic tablet computer provided by the researchers. These data were collected via the REDCap system (Research Electronic Data Capture), beginning the day following the initial Time 1 interview and continuing for 30 consecutive days. ICBPs and partners were asked to complete two surveys per day, one between 30 and 60 minutes after rising (Beginning of Day; BOD), and another between 30 and 60 minutes before bedtime (End of Day; EOD).
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IRB: <br>
Couples' Daily Lives with Chronic Back Pain <br>
STUDY00013726