| Description |
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a serious respiratory disorder, confers increased risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality. The standard treatment is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), but adherence is often poor. Some forms of partner involvement (e.g., support, encouragement) have positive effects on CPAP adherence, but other forms (e.g., criticism, blame) are counterproductive. In the former, constructive partner efforts may enhance a patient's sense of autonomy, an important foundation for self-care. The present study examined how perceived partner autonomy support predicts adherence to CPAP, and whether it is an independent predictor, relative to generally positive partner behavior (i.e., partner responsiveness) and partner negativity (i.e., negative social control). Ninety-three married or cohabitating OSA patients (mean age 48.27 years) completed measures of perceived partner autonomy support, responsiveness, and negative social control at days 14 and 60 of CPAP treatment. Objective CPAP machine adherence data were collected daily for 60 days. Perceived autonomy support predicted more minutes of CPAP used per night and increasing CPAP use over time. These effects were independent of the significant adverse effects of partner negative social control and the more limited beneficial effects of partner responsiveness. The study findings establish perceived autonomy support as an independent iv interpersonal predictor of adherence and may inform psychosocial interventions for CPAP adherence in OSA patients and more general couple approaches to chronic illness management. |
