Living with a spouse with chronic illness – the challenge of balancing demands and resources (original) (raw)
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A Qualitative Study of Dyadic Coping among Couples Dealing with Burden of Chronic Illness
Global Social Sciences Review, 2020
The present qualitative study aimed in-depth exploration of dyadic coping among couples dealing with chronic illness. There were 12 couples (six females and six males) with chronic illness and their healthy partners were interviewed. The in-depth interviews were conducted through interview guide based on Systematic Transactional Model (STM) (Bodenmann, 1995) and lived experiences of participants. The results were analyzed by using (Braun & Clarke, 2006) method of thematic analysis. The results revealed that female diagnosed partners showed less supportive dyadic coping to deal with physical and emotional burden of their chronic illnesses as compared to chronically ill male partners. However, the economic hardships is equally stressful for both members of the couples resulted in negative dyadic coping. The therapeutic assistance should be given to improve the dyadic coping among couples to deal with burden of chronic illness and live with better quality of life.
Frontiers, 2023
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 spouses according to the interpretive-reconstructive documentary method. Results: We derived four thematic areas: () partner(ship) disappears behind the disease; () partners struggle with changing tasks and roles; () caring partners mourn the loss of intimacy; and () partners strive to rebalance the partnership. Discussion: When chronic illness and care dependency enter couples' lives, the self-image as husband or wife is a ected. 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.
Whose illness is it anyway? On facing illness as a couple
Journal of Family Therapy, 2014
Whose illness is it anyway? On facing illness as a couple Jenny Altschuler a This article explores current trends in research and clinical practice regarding life-limiting illness and couple relationships; focusing on intimacy, gender, coping strategies and congruence in perceptions. A case example is used to illustrate how systemic ideas and techniques can help couples address the challenges they face and rethink what they want and need from each other. Practitioner points • In all clinical work it is important to bear witness to partners' shared and different experiences. • It is also important to reflect on resonances with one's own experiences of loss and illness. • Where couples are struggling, systemic techniques offer a way of increasing relational awareness, authenticity and mutuality.
Applied Nursing Research, 2020
To explore the perceptions of main caregivers regarding caring for chronic complex patients in two different regions of Spain. Background: Spain is a country with an ageing population and a high number of people with chronic diseases. It is well known that the role of the caregiver is important to ensure quality of life and appropriate care. Methods: Qualitative design using focus groups. Five focus groups, from two different regions, were conducted with 22 caregivers of people with chronic complex diseases to explore their personal experience, examine the quality of care received by the patient and their family and to develop strategies for the improvement of the quality of health care. The focus groups were audio and video recorded. The transcriptions of the focus group sessions were exported to qualitative software analysis MAXQDA 2018.2. The qualitative content analysis was based on different analytical cycles. Results: In general terms, caregivers would refer to accepting the care of their family members, but they highlight many negative aspects such as tiredness, lack of help and overload of care. They indicated general satisfaction with the health system but indicated that help was insufficient and that strategies to better address the situations of the complex chronic patient should be improved. The main categories observed were: Conclusions. Complex chronic illnesses are increasingly common at present, generating important consequences on the lives of patients and that of their caregivers. The design of any health strategy for facing the dilemma of chronic illnesses, must necessarily include the vision of the caregivers.
Living a Meaningful Life and Taking Good Care of Oneself in Times of Illness: Highlighting a Dilemma
IJFAB: International Journal of Feminist Approaches to Bioethics, 2019
An authoethnography explores the lived experiences of patients being in control and self-managing their chronic illness among their families and friends. Findings show that the current health discourse narrows down people to mere patients and gives rise to tensions. This article indicates that people with one or several chronic illnesses or disabilities are first of all full citizens with needs, values, and drives seeking a meaningful life. Fair possibilities ought to exist to satisfy their needs to belong, to care for and to matter to others since these constitute an essential aspect of being human.
The meaning of self-care for people with chronic illness
Journal of Nursing and Healthcare of Chronic Illness, 2010
kralik d, price k & telford k (2010) Journal of Nursing and Healthcare of Chronic Illness2, 197–204 The meaning of self-care for people with chronic illnessAim. To reveal the meaning of self-care as described by men and women living with chronic conditions.Background. Chronic illness self-care and self-management are terms that have been used interchangeably in the literature. Self-care in the context of chronic illness has received some research attention, but remains an under-explored concept.Methods. Conversation data were gathered using longitudinal email groups facilitated by the first author over a 21-month period between 2003–2005, with 42 men and women living with chronic illness.Results. Self-care is a process of adaptation in response to learning about oneself and about ways to live well with illness. Developing capacity to self care impacted significantly on the way participants experienced illness, their view of themselves and of their future.Conclusions. People living with chronic illness describe the process of self-care as transformational in terms of feelings about their selves and reclaiming a sense of order. It enables them to move forward with a sense of the future. The primary health care principle of holistic assessment, taking account of the wider context of people’s lives, is of heightened importance when educating about self-care.Relevance to clinical practice. Health care workers can assist people by acknowledging that chronic illness self-care is a process that gradually evolves and is borne out of listening to the person’s priorities and finding ways for strategies to fit harmoniously alongside those priorities.
Balancing Loving and Caring in Times of Chronic Illness
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