EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL INTIMACY IN COPING WITH LUPUS - WOMENS DILEMMAS OF DISCLOSURE AND APPROACH

This study examined whether self-rated physical and emotional intimacy of 74 women with their heterosexual partner, during an illness episod e of lupus, was related to their affect and relationship satisfaction. It was predicted that greater intimacy would be related to better psy chosocial adjustment. Women who engaged in physically intimate behavio r with their partner more often reported greater relationship satisfac tion. Women who frequently avoided or who were often the initiators of physical intimacy, however, reported greater negative affect. Concern ing emotional intimacy, women who disclosed more information about ill ness symptoms and women who concealed more information about their sym ptoms and feelings experienced the highest levels of negative affect. Results identify dilemmas that women with recurrent illness may face w hen trying to maintain intimacy during illness periods.