The Nature and Scope of Stressful Spousal Caregiving Relationships

Davis, Linda Lindsey; Gilliss, Catherine L.; Deshefy-Longhi, T; Chestnutt, Deborah; Molloy, Margory A.

doi:10.1177/1074840711405666

Cited by 67 publications

(64 citation statements)

References 35 publications

(40 reference statements)

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“…This research has highlighted carers' grief, burden, obligation, problems with service navigation and role implications, historically grounded in Role Theory (Davis et al, 2011) which emphasizes stressors arising from role changes and transitions.…”

Section: Spouse Carers Of People With Chronic Physical Health Conditionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Importance of Relationship in Understanding the Experiences of Spouse Mental Health Carers

Lawn

McMahon

2014

Qual Health Res

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The burden of caring for family members with mental illness has been researched extensively. However, knowledge of spouse carers' experiences is limited. In this article, we explore this from a carers' perspective, with 28 spouse carers, using qualitative open-ended semi-structured interviews using a grounded theory approach informed by the social interactionism tradition to collect and analyze the data. We present six interrelated themes around the central theme of this being "a real and genuine relationship". The findings indicate that caring for a spouse with severe mental illness is a unique role compared with other caring roles. First and foremost, spouse carers strive for the relationship with their partner, and accommodate mental illness into their lives to protect the relationship. Because of this, they often lead surreal lives marked by significant emotional pressure and isolation. This has implications for how mental health service providers work with and support spouse carers. KeywordsCaregivers / caregiving; grounded theory; men's health; mental health and illness; relationships, primary partner 2 Archived at Flinders University: dspace.flinders.edu.auInformal carers provide unpaid care to family or friends with a disability, chronic physical illness, mental illness, or who are frail aged. Treloar and Funk (2011) called this "intimate labour" which they situated within the broader concept of "familialism" where, "Households are viewed as having the primary responsibility for members' welfare throughout the life course" (p. 154). Some carers assume these responsibilities willingly, as part of familial connection with the person cared for. As Cormac and Tihanyi (2006) suggested Underpinning the caring role may be life-long love and friendship, together with an acceptance of the duty to provide care. Carers can derive satisfaction and a sense of well-being . . . receive love and affection from the care recipient, (and) gain a sense of achievement from developing personal attributes of patience and tolerance (p. 162).A significant group, bound to provide care through their chosen relationship, are wives, husbands or de facto partners of people with severe mental illnesses such as major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or personality disorder. Caring for someone with these diagnoses requires spouses to navigate many complexities within the spousal relationship and caring role. Spouse Carers of People with Chronic Physical Health ConditionsMany researchers have looked at the experience of spouse carers of people with cancer (Kuenzler, Hodgkinson, Zindel, Bargetzi & Znoi, 2011), stroke (Coombs, 2007, cardiac disease (Mahrer-Imhoff, Hoffmann & Froelicher, 2007), arthritis (Roberto & Gold, 1997), asthma (Afari & Schmaling, 2000, Parkinson's disease (Tanji, et al., 2008), Alzheimer's dementia (Gilliam & Steffen, 2006) and chronic conditions generally (Baanders & Heijmans, 2007). This research has highlighted carers' grief, burden, obligation, problems...

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Section: Spouse Carers Of People With Chronic Physical Health Conditionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Importance of Relationship in Understanding the Experiences of Spouse Mental Health Carers

Lawn

McMahon

2014

Qual Health Res

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“…P ast research has clearly established that, when chronic illness occurs in the context of a marriage or other romantic relationship, it can dramatically affect the psychosocial well-being of not only the person who is ill but also his or her partner (e.g., Burton, Zdaniuk, Schulz, Jackson, & Hirsch, 2003;Corbin & Strauss, 1988;Courts, Newton, & McNeal, 2005;Davis, Gilliss, Deshefy-Longhi, Chestnutt, & Molloy, 2011;Farkas, 1980;Zahlis & Lewis, 2010). The body of literature regarding the experience of chronic illness for the partner is largely dominated by research on issues related to caregiving.…”

mentioning

confidence: 98%

Psychosocial Challenges Experienced by Partners of People With Parkinson Disease

Martin¹

2015

Journal of Neuroscience Nursing

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Although researchers have examined issues related to partners providing care for a person with Parkinson disease (PWP), few have explored partners' broader psychosocial experiences. To investigate this underexplored area, individual, in-depth interviews with 23 partners of PWPs were conducted. Participants reported significant psychosocial challenges, including having the PWP withdraw from communication, being unable to "rescue" the PWP, being the recipient of the PWP's frustration, expressing impatience with the PWP, shouldering increased responsibility, being confronted with possibly losing the PWP, losing valued activities, feeling housebound, being unable to predict the PWP's daily well-being, and experiencing uncertainty about future caregiving and disease progression. These results indicate that being the partner of a PWP involves serious, complex psychosocial challenges related to both caregiving and noncaregiving issues. This research highlights the need for a family-centered approach to Parkinson care and provides valuable insight that can inform interventions and nursing practice for this population.

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“…The aim of the parent study was to determine the results of an intervention designed to decrease depressive symptoms and caregiver burden, and increase Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson disease (PD) caregiver preparedness. Data from Project ASSIST has been presented elsewhere (Davis, Gilliss, Deshefy-Longhi, Chestnutt, & Molloy, 2011; Davis, Weaver, & Habermann, 2006; McLennon, Habermann, & Davis, 2010; Shim, Landerman, & Davis, 2011; Shim, Barroso, & Davis, 2012). …”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Compassion Fatigue in Adult Daughter Caregivers of a Parent with Dementia

Day

Anderson

Davis

2014

Issues in Mental Health Nursing

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Adult daughters face distinct challenges caring for parents with dementia and may experience compassion fatigue: the combination of helplessness, hopelessness, an inability to be empathic, and a sense of isolation resulting from prolonged exposure to perceived suffering. Prior research on compassion fatigue has focused on professional healthcare providers and has overlooked filial caregivers. This study attempts to identify and explore risk factors for compassion fatigue in adult daughter caregivers and to substantiate further study of compassion fatigue in family caregivers. We used content analysis of baseline interviews with 12 adult daughter caregivers of a parent with dementia who participated in a randomized trial of homecare training. Four themes were identified in adult daughter caregiver interviews: (a) uncertainty; (b) doubt; (c) attachment; and (d) strain. Findings indicated adult daughter caregivers are at risk for compassion fatigue, supporting the need for a larger study exploring compassion fatigue in this population.

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The Nature and Scope of Stressful Spousal Caregiving Relationships

Cited by 67 publications

References 35 publications

The Importance of Relationship in Understanding the Experiences of Spouse Mental Health Carers

The Importance of Relationship in Understanding the Experiences of Spouse Mental Health Carers

Psychosocial Challenges Experienced by Partners of People With Parkinson Disease

Compassion Fatigue in Adult Daughter Caregivers of a Parent with Dementia

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