Spouse Adaptation After the Partner's Open Heart Surgery

SPOUSE ADAPTATION AFTER THE PARTNER'S OPEN HEART SURGERY By Marietta J. Gardner The purpose of this study was to describe the adaptation of male and female spouses after their partners' open heart surgery using the theory of person as an adaptive syston. A descriptive correlational design was used to examine adaptation of male and fanale spouses to their partners' open heart surgery (criterion variable); and partners' health prior to surgery, length of time partner diagnosed with heart disease, number of years married, and general state of marital relationship prior to surgery as perceived by the spouse were predictor variables. The sample consisted of 20 male and 25 female spouses, 31 to 88 years of age. Data were analyzed using multiple regression analysis. The state of the marital relationship explained 28% of the variation in spouse adaptation (p=.0Q18). Other findings identified no significant difference between genders in scores for psychosocial adaptation. The dcxnains of psychosocial adaptation which displayed the highest percentages of ineffective adaptation were psychological distress (82.1%) and social environment (68.8%), behaviors in the self-concept and interdependence modes, respectfully. Qualitative data revealed tlie behiavioral modes demonstrating the greatest problems for male and female spouses were interdependence (M=35%; F=56%) and role function (M=20%; F=12%). DEDICATED TO THE STAFF OF THE CARDIOTHORACIC INTENSIVE AND STEP-UP UNITS AT MUNSON MEDICAL CENTER IN TRAVERSE CITY, MICHIGAN