Pain in the Context of Family: A Study on Factors Contributing to Marital Satisfaction among Couples Suffering from Chronic Pain

BACKGROUND: Chronic pain is associated with increased stress in families and has its own impact on the relationship between members of the family. Among couples, if one of them suffers from chronic pain, this may influence marital satisfaction in both of them and given the importance of marital satisfaction in the prediction of successful treatment outcome, it is important to investigate pain and personality-related factors contributing to inter-individuals variation in marital satisfaction. METHODS: Participants in this study were recruited from Atieh Hospital and Rasa Pain Clinic, Tehran, Iran in the year 2013. Chronic pain patients and their spouses were asked to complete a battery of questionnaires including measures on pain cognition and marital satisfaction. Using correlation and regression analysis factors with the highest level of contribution to marital satisfaction were investigated. RESULTS: Spouses’ level of rumination about patients’ pain has been found to be positively correlated with marital satisfaction in patients. In addition, patients’ depression has been found to be the best predictor of level of marital satisfaction in patients. In addition, patients’ level of depression, disability and perceived helplessness has been found to be the best predictors of marital satisfaction in their spouses. CONCLUSION: To improve marital satisfaction among chronic pain patients, their support-seeking needs should be satisfied through involvement of their spouses in the process of treatment. To improve marital satisfaction among patients’ spouses, we should help patients regain their ability, improve their mood, and make patients believe that they have access to the support of their caregivers.