Emotional intimacy, empathic concern, and relationship satisfaction in women with endometriosis and their partners

Van Niekerk, Leesa, Emma Schubert, Schubert E, Mandy Matthewson, Matthewson M
Journal of psychosomatic obstetrics and gynaecology · 2020 · vol. 42(1) , pp. 81–87 · doi:10.1080/0167482x.2020.1774547 · PMID:32530359 · W3034512159
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Emotional intimacy and partner empathic concern positively correlated with relationship satisfaction in women with endometriosis and their partners.

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Abstract

INTRODUCTION: This is the first study to explore relationship satisfaction through a dyadic lens in couples living with endometriosis. This is timely and important given that endometriosis is a shared experience within the couple rather than an isolated experience occurring for the individual members of a couple. METHODS: Sixty couples completed online measures assessing emotional intimacy, empathic concern, psychological health, and relationship satisfaction. RESULTS: Emotional intimacy was associated with one's own relationship satisfaction and partner emotional intimacy was associated with the woman's relationship satisfaction in couples living with endometriosis. Women's empathic concern was unrelated to their own and their partners' relationship satisfaction. However, partner empathic concern was associated with both their own and the woman's relationship satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: Healthcare providers are encouraged to engage partners of women diagnosed with endometriosis in education and treatment processes. This engagement could be used to ascertain, and improve where needed, the emotional intimacy and empathic concern experienced by the couple.

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Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Personal Satisfaction Female Humans Interpersonal Relations Sexual Behavior Sexual Partners Surveys and Questionnaires

Citation neighborhood

Papers in the corpus that this work cites (lower rings, blue) and that cite this one (upper rings, green). Dot size scales with the paper's in-corpus citation count — bigger dot = more influential within the endo/adeno field. Click a dot to open that paper. [ expand to 2 hops ] — adds papers reached through this work's immediate citers/citees. Heavier; up to 60 extra dots.

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Cited by (24)

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