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A qualitative study of adjustment to caring for an older spouse with psychiatric illness

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 November 1998

JOANNA MURRAY  and
GILL LIVINGSTON
JOANNA MURRAY
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, University College London Medical School
GILL LIVINGSTON
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of London Medical School
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Abstract

An understanding of ways in which older carers' perceptions of their marital relationship and duty to their spouse underlie adjustment to care-giving is required for the development of acceptable and efficacious services for spouse carers. With this aim we conducted qualitative interviews with 20 spouses of older people with a mental illness identified in a representative community study. While carers acknowledged distressing changes in their spouse, a history of reciprocity and intimacy emerged, comprising positive themes and perceived continuity which favourably influenced adjustment to care-giving. Those who still experience closeness in the relationship see themselves as coping and are reluctant to accept formal help. Others describe long-term unhappiness in marriage and experience feelings of entrapment in the role of carer. They require early and comprehensive services. Hypotheses regarding these themes are proposed.

Keywords

Spouse carersmental healthmarriagereciprocityintimacyqualitative method
Type
Research Article
Information
Ageing & Society , Volume 18 , Issue 6 , November 1998 , pp. 659 - 671
Copyright
© 1998 Cambridge University Press

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