Conjugal Support, Family Coping Behaviours and the Well-being of Elderly Couples

Abstract

One of the factors that is thought to contribute to the quality of life of elderly people is that they remain in their primary environment as long as possible (Ducharme, 1984; Schwenger & Gross, 1987). However, the rate of institutionalization of the elderly in Canada is one of the highest among the industrialized countries of the world, and it is growing (Schwenger & Gross, 1987; Statistics Canada, 1988). Finding ways of maintaining the elderly in the community has become a main goal of health professionals. In Canada, two strategies have recently been proposed to promote the well-being of the elderly in their primary environment: reinforcing their natural support systems, and assisting them to increase their capacity to cope (Epp, 1986; Health and Welfare Canada, 1988). However, accomplishing these goals will require further knowledge development in the area of social support and coping. Conjugal support, acknowledged as the most important source of support for the elderly (Depner & Ingersoll-Dayton, 1985; Parmelee, 1983), and coping have been identified as important factors contributing to the elderly's ability to remain within the community (Evans et al., 1975; Wan & Weissert, 1981). Studies of conjugal support (Burke & Weir, 1982; TraupmaX & Hat-field, 1981) and coping (Felton & Revenson, 1984; Kahana, Kahana & Young, 1987) suggest that each of these factors is associated with the physical and psychological well-being of the elderly. Nevertheless, the features of conjugal support and the types of family coping behaviours of elderly couples that are associated with well-being are largely unknown. Furthermore, the way in which support and coping may work to affect well-being is not yet understood.