Social representations of couples in which one member has cardiac heart failure

Research
By Fabie Duhamel, France Dupuis, Mary Reidy
English

There is a dearth of literature on the beliefs and constructs that influence couples’ experience with cardiac heart failure (HF). This article summarizes a qualitative study that aimed to describe social representations associated with HF among eleven couples in which one member was diagnosed with the illness. The social representations that emerged from the study, as well as the similitude and difference between spouses, trigger interesting reflections on their link with the illness experience. A difference between men and women is especially noticeable in the social representations associated with the role of the patient and with the spouse in managing the illness. Results underline the importance of offering support to both members of the couple.

Keywords

  • cardiac heart failure
  • social representations
  • couples
  • illness management
Go to the article on Cairn-int.info