Spouse confidence in self-efficacy for arthritis management predicts improved patient health.

Background: In addition to patient self-efficacy, spouse confidence in patient efficacy may also independently predict patient health outcomes. However, the potential influence of spouse confidence has received little research attention.

Purpose: The current study examined the influence of patient and spouse efficacy beliefs for arthritis management on patient health.

Methods: Patient health (i.e., arthritis severity, perceived health, depressive symptoms, lower extremity function), patient self-efficacy, and spouse confidence in patients' efficacy were assessed in a sample of knee osteoarthritis patients (N = 152) and their spouses at three time points across an 18-month period. Data were analyzed using structural equation models.

Results: Consistent with predictions, spouse confidence in patient efficacy for arthritis management predicted improvements in patient depressive symptoms, perceived health, and lower extremity function over 6 months and in arthritis severity over 1 year.

Conclusions: Our findings add to a growing literature that highlights the important role of spouse perceptions in patients' long-term health.