STRESSORS, SOCIAL SUPPORT, AND ADJUSTMENT IN KIDNEY-TRANSPLANT PATIENTS AND THEIR SPOUSES

Kidney transplant patients and their spouses (n = 121 couples) rated t heir overall stress, social support, and adjustment following transpla ntation. Patients experienced significantly more overall stress than d id spouses, although spouses were equally or more stressed than patien ts on some issues. Patients and spouses did not differ in marital sati sfaction, although patients reported significantly more depression tha n did spouses. Overall stress was related to lower marital satisfactio n and increased depression for both patients and spouses. Patients who were experiencing higher stress benefitted more from the support they received from their spouses. Spouses who were less stressed offered m ore helpful and less unhelpful support to patients. Implications for s ocial work practice are discussed.