Does well-being suffer when control in productive activities is low? A dyadic longitudinal analysis in the disability setting

• Published in: Journal of psychosomatic research 2019-07, Vol.122, p.13-23
• Main Authors: Fekete, Christine, Tough, Hannah, Brinkhof, Martin W.G., Siegrist, Johannes
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological - physiology; Adult; Aged; Caregiver burden; Caregivers; Caregivers - psychology; Caregiving; Cognitive ability; Disabled Persons - psychology; Emotions; Female; Housework; Humans; Informal caregivers; Injuries; Integrated care; Life satisfaction; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Middle Aged; Negative emotions; Physical disabilities; Positive emotions; Productive activities; Risk factors; Socioeconomic factors; Socioeconomic position; Spinal cord; Spinal cord injuries; Spinal Cord Injuries - psychology; Spinal cord injury; Surveys and Questionnaires; Well being; Workplace control
• ISSN: 0022-3999; 1879-1360
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2019.04.015

We investigate the relationship between control in productive activities (paid work, housework, caregiving) and well-being in persons with a physical disability and their caregiving partners from a dyadic perspective, exploring not only the effect of own control on well-being, but also the effect of the partners' control on well-being. We further evaluated socioeconomic and caregiving characteristics as potential risk factors for low control in productive activities. Longitudinal dyadic data from the pro-WELL survey (n = 246) including persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) and their caregiving partners were used and mixed-effects regression modelling was applied. Well-being was operationalized with a cognitive (Satisfaction with Life Scale, SWLS) and an affective component (Positive and Negative Affect Scale, PANAS). Control at work was positively related to well-being in persons with SCI, but less so in caregiving partners. Control in housework and caregiving was associated with higher well-being. The partners' control was linked to affective well-being. Poor socioeconomic conditions were negatively related to control at work and in caregiving, but not to control in housework. Caregiving characteristics seem unrelated to control at work or housework, but higher objective caregiver burden was linked to reduced control in caregiving. Our findings suggest that low control in productive activities are common in the disability setting and represent an instrumental factor for reduced well-being that is augmented by poor socioeconomic conditions and high objective burden of care. Interventions aiming to optimize well-being through the integration in productive activities should take into account opportunities of exerting control. •Well-being suffers when control in housework and caregiving is low.•Well-being in persons with disabilities suffers when control at work is low.•Affective well-being suffers if the partner experiences low control.•Poor socioeconomic conditions increased the risk of low control in productive activities.•Partners with higher burden of care are at risk of low control in caregiving.