A Longitudinal Observational Study of Multimorbidity and Partner Support for Physical Activity Among People with Osteoarthritis.

BACKGROUND: Physical activity can improve osteoarthritis-related symptoms; however, many people with osteoarthritis (PWOA) are insufficiently active. Social support for physical activity from an intimate partner can help PWOA increase activity, but managing multiple, chronic physical or mental health conditions (i.e., multimorbidity) may influence provision and receipt of that support. METHOD: Data from a 1-year longitudinal observational study was used to examine associations between multimorbidity and three dimensions of partner support for physical activity-companionship partner support (doing activity together), enacted partner support, and social support effectiveness-in 169 insufficiently active PWOA and their partners. RESULTS: Multivariable-adjusted multi-level models indicated baseline differences in support by multimorbidity status: when partners had multimorbidity, PWOA reported receiving less companionship support and less effective support from partners; when PWOA had multimorbidity, partners reported providing less enacted support and both partners and PWOA reported less effective partner support. Broad trends (p < .05) indicate initial increases and subsequent decreases in companionship and enacted partner support when PWOA had multimorbidity, and among partners with and without multimorbidity. When PWOA had multimorbidity, an initial increase in support effectiveness was followed by no significant change; a similar trend was seen among partners with and without multimorbidity. CONCLUSION: Multimorbidity may generally contribute to less partner support for physical activity or less effective support, although influences on support over time are less clear. Physical activity interventions for couples experiencing multimorbidity would likely benefit from attention to the impact of multiple chronic health conditions on physical activity and physical activity-related partner support.

Overcoming Barriers to Physical Activity in People with Osteoarthritis: the Role of Empathic Accuracy in Couples' Planning Discussions.

BACKGROUND: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common chronic joint disease with significant individual and public health consequences. Physical activity can reduce OA symptoms, but patients often fall below recommended levels. Social support from an intimate partner can help them become more active; however, some couples are better than others at enacting effective support. We examined the role of empathic accuracy (EA)-the ability to understand another person's thoughts and feelings-in couples' ability to identify strategies for overcoming barriers to increasing activity. We also examined whether EA was associated with changes in affect and with emotion regulation and communication skills. METHOD: Forty-two insufficiently physically active participants with OA identified a barrier to becoming more active in a recorded discussion with their partner. Next, both rated self and partner thoughts and feelings during the discussion. Raters coded EA and whether discussions reached a solution. Affect and skills were assessed with validated questionnaires. RESULTS: An actor-partner interdependence model found higher EA for participants in couples who reached a solution compared to those who did not reach a solution in the allotted time. Both partners' EA was associated with reduced negative affect in the other member of the couple. Unexpectedly, EA in people with OA was associated with reduced positive affect for their partners. EA was positively associated with one skill: emotional clarity. CONCLUSION: Findings from this early-stage study suggest that EA can help couples manage health-related issues together. Emotional clarity emerged as a skill related to EA, suggesting avenues for additional research.