CAREGIVING IN THE CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS OF CARDIAC PATIENTS - EXCHANGE,POWER, AND ATTRIBUTIONAL PERSPECTIVES ON CAREGIVER RESENTMENT

Individuals with a cardiac condition and their spousal caregivers were recruited from cardiac rehabilitation centers and interviewed separat ely. Based on exchange theory, it was expected that greater caregiver resentment would be associated with feeling underbenefited in the rela tionship and with an orientation to relationships that did not focus o n the needs of the partner (communal), but did focus on ''tit-for-tat' ' reciprocity (exchange). It was also expected that those caregivers w ho were more likely to get their needs satisfied in the relationship b efore the cardiac incident would be more resentful at giving care. Fin ally, based on attributional theory, it was predicted that caregivers who thought that their spouses were not taking responsibility for impr oving their health would be more resentful. As predicted, more resentf ul caregivers were those who felt underbenefited, were more exchange o riented, and judged that their partners were not working toward improv ing their health. In addition, only those with a low communal orientat ion toward their spouse showed a relationship between feeling underben efited and resentment. The needs centrality prediction was not support ed. The findings illustrate the utility of applying theories developed in the close relationship area to the understanding of caregiving wit h chronically ill populations.