An examination of the physical health, health care use, and psychological well-being of spouses of people with fibromyalgia syndrome

The present study compared the physical and mental health and the health care use of spouses of patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FS group; n = 135) with that of spouses of healthy individuals (n = 153). FS group participants reported lower health and affective states and scored higher on depression, loneliness, and subjective stress than comparison group participants (p <.017). Husbands in the FS group who reported more illness impact and whose wives reported worse sleep quality and less self-efficacy had more psychological difficulties. No differences were found in health care costs between groups. These findings suggest that chronic illness in a partner may negatively affect an individual's physical and mental health.