Dyadic coping in couples experiencing mild cognitive impairment

IF 4.4 1区心理学 Q1 PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL

International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology Pub Date : 2026-04-01 Epub Date: 2026-06-03 DOI:10.1016/j.ijchp.2026.100696

Chase Virta-Steel , Lucille J Carriere , Dona EC Locke , Anne L. Shandera-Ochsner , Andrea Cuc , Melanie J. Chandler

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Abstract

Background

The diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) can create stress for patients and their care partners (dyads). This study aimed to understand how dyadic coping (DC; how well couples feel they cope together in the face of a stressor) is related to the psychological health and overall well-being of couples coping with an MCI diagnosis. Additionally, this study attempted to characterize the impact of the HABIT Healthy Action to Benefit Independence & Thinking® program as a novel approach for improving DC.

Methods

We analyzed DC in 213 people with MCI (pwMCI) and 205 care partners using the Dyadic Coping Inventory (Bodenmann, 2005). We compared DC scores to outcome measures of psychological health and well-being. We also analyzed DC in a subset of 135 pwMCI and 138 care partners with 3-month post HABIT DC scores to look for evidence of change.

Results

pwMCI and care partner DC significantly affected their own perception of emotional functioning on other measures [quality of life (QoL) and mood for pwMCI and QoL, mood, anxiety, and sense of burden for care partners]. pwMCI DC also predicted care partner anxiety. In all cases, better DC predicted better emotional functioning. Care partner DC was also found to significantly relate to how they rated the pwMCI’s cognitive and daily functioning as well as the pwMCI’s adherence with a cognitive rehabilitation intervention. pwMCI and care partners with low baseline DC showed an increase in DC scores after completing HABIT, as did pwMCI in the medium baseline DC group. Care partners with medium baseline DC did not experience change post HABIT. High copers in both the pwMCI and care partner groups experienced a decline in DC, although scores remained average to above average.

Conclusion

These results suggest that DC is an important part of a couple’s psychological health and well-being in MCI. Care partner DC may be particularly important in how partners rate their loved one’s cognitive and functional status and how they respond to cognitive rehabilitation intervention. The HABIT program may also represent a novel way to improve DC for low and medium coping couples.

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有轻度认知障碍的夫妻的二元应对

轻度认知障碍（MCI）的诊断会给患者及其护理伙伴（二人组）带来压力。本研究旨在了解二元应对（DC，夫妻共同面对压力源的感觉）与夫妻应对MCI诊断的心理健康和整体幸福感之间的关系。此外，本研究试图描述习惯健康行动有益于独立思考®计划作为一种改善DC的新方法的影响。方法采用二元应对量表（Bodenmann, 2005）对213名轻度认知障碍患者（pwMCI）和205名护理伴进行DC分析。我们将DC分数与心理健康和幸福感的结果测量进行了比较。我们还分析了135名pwMCI和138名护理伙伴的DC，他们的DC评分为3个月后，以寻找变化的证据。结果pwMCI患者和护理伙伴DC显著影响其对其他指标的情绪功能感知[生活质量（QoL）和心境，护理伙伴的心境、焦虑和负担感]。pwMCI DC也能预测护理伙伴焦虑。在所有情况下，更好的DC预示着更好的情绪功能。护理伙伴DC也被发现与他们如何评估pwMCI的认知和日常功能以及pwMCI对认知康复干预的依从性显着相关。pwMCI和低基线DC的护理伙伴在完成HABIT后的DC评分增加，中等基线DC组的pwMCI也是如此。中等基线DC的护理伙伴在习惯后没有发生改变。在pwMCI组和护理伙伴组中，高应对者的DC都有所下降，尽管得分保持在平均水平以上。结论在MCI患者中，DC是夫妻心理健康和幸福感的重要组成部分。护理伙伴DC可能在伴侣如何评价他们所爱的人的认知和功能状态以及他们如何对认知康复干预作出反应方面特别重要。习惯项目也可能是改善低、中等应对能力夫妻DC的一种新方法。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL-

CiteScore

10.70

自引率

5.70%

发文量

审稿时长

33 days

期刊介绍： The International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology is dedicated to publishing manuscripts with a strong emphasis on both basic and applied research, encompassing experimental, clinical, and theoretical contributions that advance the fields of Clinical and Health Psychology. With a focus on four core domains—clinical psychology and psychotherapy, psychopathology, health psychology, and clinical neurosciences—the IJCHP seeks to provide a comprehensive platform for scholarly discourse and innovation. The journal accepts Original Articles (empirical studies) and Review Articles. Manuscripts submitted to IJCHP should be original and not previously published or under consideration elsewhere. All signing authors must unanimously agree on the submitted version of the manuscript. By submitting their work, authors agree to transfer their copyrights to the Journal for the duration of the editorial process.