The couple would be the best pain reliever, according to the results of a study published in the medical journal Psychological Science. Partner’s empathy improves the physical function of people in pain and makes everyday life more bearable.
Researchers at Ohio State University in the United States conducted a study with 152 patients witharthritis, all over 50, married or living with a partner. Participants responded to short daily surveys for 22 days. The spouses rated their partner’s pain level. The patients rated the degree to which the spouses responded to their expression of pain.
Empathy improves the daily life of patients
The researchers measured the patients’ physical function – including balance, gait, speed, and the ability to get out of a chair – at the start of the study, 6 months later, and 18 months later.
“Based on previous work, we expected patients with more sensitive and caring partners to experience their pain better,” said Stephanie Wilson, Ohio State researcher and lead author of the study. “We wanted to confirm these conclusions.”
The results of the study showed that patients with empathetic partners showed improved physical function 6 and 18 months later compared to patients with partners who were less sensitive to their pain. In fact, the researchers observed that patients with osteoarthritis whose spouses were more empathetic in daily interactions see their physical function improve more and more quickly over time: these patients find a better balance, walk more quickly. and manage to get up on their own. “A model of empathic reactivity therefore to be encouraged and whatever the pathology of course”, concludes the researcher.
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