TABLE 2.
Frequencies of Items Assessing Communal Coping and Partners’ Helpful and Unhelpful Behaviors
| Item | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Communal Coping #1: Whose problem is it? | |
| Completely my problem | 18 |
| Mostly my problem | 65 |
| Both of our problem | 15 |
| Mostly my partner’s problem | 3 |
| Completely my partner’s problem | 0 |
| Communal Coping #2: Whose responsibility is it? | |
| Completely my responsibility | 41 |
| Mostly my responsibility | 49 |
| Both of our responsibility | 10 |
| Mostly my partner’s responsibility | 0 |
| Completely my partner’s responsibility | 0 |
| Communal Coping #3: How much do you work together? | |
| None of the time | 9 |
| A little of the time | 18 |
| Some of the time | 29 |
| Most of the time | 34 |
| All of the time | 10 |
| How is your partner helpful? | |
| Emotional support (listening, understanding) | 43 |
| Instrumental support (concrete assistance with diabetes) | 29 |
| Specific assistance with low blood sugar | 25 |
| Reminding me to do things (test, see doctor) | 18 |
| How is your partner unhelpful? | |
| Partner worries/gets distressed about diabetes | 31 |
| Makes it difficult to eat healthy (buys unhealthy food) | 16 |
| Lacks emotional support (doesn’t understand, insensitive) | 13 |
| Mere presence keeps me from taking care of myself | 7 |
| Nags me to do what I’m supposed to do | 7 |
| Argues about how I should best take care of myself | 7 |
| Scheduling issues (e.g., don’t eat at the same time) | 7 |