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. 2023 Mar 17:11:1117786.
doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1117786. eCollection 2023.

Longing for normalcy in couple relationships: How chronic illness and care dependency change the relationship of long-married couples

Katharina Niedling  1 , Kerstin Hämel  1
Affiliations

Longing for normalcy in couple relationships: How chronic illness and care dependency change the relationship of long-married couples

Katharina Niedling et al. Front Public Health. .

Abstract

Introduction: Coping with chronic illness and care dependency in a marital dyad challenges many older couples. In our qualitative research study, we are interested in how long-married spouses in Germany experience their couple relationship while dealing with long-term care and adapting everyday life to the care situation.

Methods: We conducted problem-centered interviews with 17 spouses according to the interpretive-reconstructive documentary method.

Results: We derived four thematic areas: (1) partner(ship) disappears behind the disease; (2) partners struggle with changing tasks and roles; (3) caring partners mourn the loss of intimacy; and (4) partners strive to rebalance the partnership.

Discussion: When chronic illness and care dependency enter couples' lives, the self-image as husband or wife is affected. Primary health care professionals should be sensitive to the specific constellation of care in couple relationships and recognize the significance of this dyadic relationship as living in a satisfying couple relationship is essential for the health and wellbeing of both partners.

Keywords: Germany; caregivers; chronic disease; home nursing; long-term care; marital dyad; qualitative research; spouses.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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