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negative effects on the emotional and physical well-being of family caregivers, and while the
notion of suffering may be implicit in existing conceptualizations of illness and disability, the
empirical research has not focused on care recipients’ suffering as a unique and independent
contributor to caregivers’ outcomes (Schulz et al., 2007).  The proposed research will focus
on the manifestation of suffering in others and ways it impacts on the perceiver.  We
operationalize suffering as expressed pain by a spouse with osteoarthritis (OA), while also
taking into account reports of physical, psychological, and spiritual aspects of suffering of
the spouse with OA.

Detection of suffering in a loved one is adaptive and initiates provision of emotional support and
assistance (Martire et al., 2006).  However, such perceived suffering may take a physical toll on
the perceiver.  Perception of pain in others involves many of the same affective neural pathways
that are activated by personal experience of pain (Singer et al., 2004), and is likely to coincide
with proximal changes in perceivers’ blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR).  Furthermore,
changes in cardiovascular reactivity in response to perceived suffering in a loved one may impact
perceivers’ health (e.g., cardiovascular health; Kaplan, Manuck, Clarkson, Lusso, & Taub, 1982;
. Manuck, Marsland, Kaplan, & Williams, 1995) as well as impact the quality of care the perceiver
provides to the spouse with OA (Dovidio et al., 1991).

In the proposed study, we will measure the caregiver’s cardiovascular reactivity (BP and HR)
and continuous perceived pain ratings (as reported by the caregiver and spouse with OA) during
observation of the spouse with OA performing a household task with which s/he has difficulty.
We will also measure the caregiver’s BP and HR while preparing to give a speech about the
spouse’s generalized suffering vs. a speech about an affectively neutral interaction with the
spouse, e.g., a meal together.  This will help us understand if there are unique effects of
thinking about the partner’s suffering vs. thinking about he spouse in general on the caregiver’s
cardiovascular reactivity.

This research has implications for the mental and physical health of both caregivers (family and
professional caregivers) and care recipients.  It also has implications for the quality of support
provided to care recipients.

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  Revised 9/30/2007  la/tc

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