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Declines in Satisfaction with Physical Intimacy Predict Caregiver Perceptions of Overall Relationship Loss: A Study of Elderly Caregiving Spousal Dyads

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Abstract

The extent to which sense of overall relationship loss (feeling less happy or emotionally close) is predicted by declines in satisfaction with opportunities for affectionate physical contact and sexual intimacy was investigated in 136 caregivers of physically and/or cognitively impaired elderly spouses. Changes in satisfaction and relationship loss were unrelated to demographic factors. Older caregivers and those with more cognitively impaired spouses evaluated their own physical health less favorably, but caregiver health was unrelated to declines in satisfaction with physical intimacy or relationship loss. The only significant predictor of declines in satisfaction was providing more care; the only significant predictor of more perceived relationship loss was greater decline in satisfaction with opportunities for affectionate physical contact and sexual intimacy. Thus, decrements in health have minimal influence on caregiver perceptions of loss in relationship quality – as long as they do not result in losses in satisfaction with physical intimacy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX, 75390-9129

    R.N. Doris Svetlik M.S. & Myron F. Weiner M.D.

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602

    W. Keith Dooley M.Ed., M.S. & Gail M. Williamson Ph.D.

  3. Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390

    Myron F. Weiner M.D.

  4. Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, 86011–5106

    Andrew S. Walters Ph.D., MPH

Authors
  1. R.N. Doris Svetlik M.S.
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  2. W. Keith Dooley M.Ed., M.S.
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  3. Myron F. Weiner M.D.
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  4. Gail M. Williamson Ph.D.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Myron F. Weiner M.D..

Additional information

Research reported in this paper was supported by the National Institute on Aging (AG15321, G. M. Williamson, principal investigator). Manuscript preparation was facilitated by a fellowship from the Institute for Behavioral Research at the University of Georgia to G. M. Williamson and by P3012300. Partial support at UT Southwestern was provided by NIA P30AG12300.

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Doris Svetlik, R., Keith Dooley, W., Weiner, M.F. et al. Declines in Satisfaction with Physical Intimacy Predict Caregiver Perceptions of Overall Relationship Loss: A Study of Elderly Caregiving Spousal Dyads. Sex Disabil 23, 65–79 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11195-005-4670-7

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