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A study of social control: What factors predict its use, how important are patient reactions, and does helpfulness enhance its effectiveness?

Thomas, Geaghan Ronald
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1176409897

Abstract Details

2007, MA, Kent State University, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Psychological Sciences.
The present dyadic study examined social control in married couples (n=132) in which one partner had been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Social control is defined as a social interaction involving regulation or influence, often in matters of disease prevention and management. The study focused on two spousal control strategies (pressure, persuasion) and patient reactions to these strategies (negative affect, behavioral resistance) as they relate to patient disease-related outcomes (dietary adherence, disease management). The present study also examined whether patients’ appraisals of the helpfulness their spouses’ involvement in dietary management moderated the relationship between spousal control and patient reactions to control. It was hypothesized that greater pressure would be associated with poorer disease outcomes whereas greater persuasion would be associated with better disease outcomes. After considering spouses’ use of pressure and persuasion, patients who reacted more negatively to each strategy were hypothesized to have poorer disease-related outcomes. In regards to the moderating effects of helpfulness, it was hypothesized that among patients who perceived the spouse to be unhelpful, more pressure would predict more negative affective reactions and greater behavioral resistance; and among patients who perceived the spouse to be helpful, more persuasion would predict fewer negative affective reactions and less behavioral resistance. Couples were recruited through advertisements in several urban areas. Patients had to be at least 55 years of age, and diagnosed with type 2 diabetes; spouses had to be non-diabetic. In separate questionnaires, spouses reported how often they exerted pressure and persuasion strategies, and patients reported their reactions to control, their appraisals their spouses’ involvement, and their disease-related outcomes. Results indicated that pressure and persuasion were unrelated to disease management but both were associated with dietary adherence. As hypothesized, pressure was associated with poorer dietary adherence whereas persuasion was associated with better dietary adherence. Further, greater resistance to persuasion was related to poorer disease-related outcomes. In contrast, affective reactions to pressure and persuasion and behavioral reactions to pressure were not associated with disease-related outcomes. Patients who perceived their spouse’s involvement as unhelpful reacted more negatively to pressure and persuasion but when patients perceived their spouses to be helpful, neither pressure nor persuasion was associated with patient reactions to control. Findings indicate that spouses who exert persuasion control or are involved in the patient’s diet in a helpful way may be able to improve the health of their diabetic partners.
Mary Ann Stephens (Advisor)
55 p.
Psychology, Social
social control; diabetes; health

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Thomas, G. R. (2007). A study of social control: What factors predict its use, how important are patient reactions, and does helpfulness enhance its effectiveness? [Master's thesis, Kent State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1176409897

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Thomas, Geaghan. A study of social control: What factors predict its use, how important are patient reactions, and does helpfulness enhance its effectiveness? 2007. Kent State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1176409897.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Thomas, Geaghan. "A study of social control: What factors predict its use, how important are patient reactions, and does helpfulness enhance its effectiveness?" Master's thesis, Kent State University, 2007. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1176409897

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

kent1176409897
669
© 2007, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Kent State University and OhioLINK.