Experiences of loss and relationship quality in couples living with dementia

Couples living with dementia face multiple losses in their relationship, and may experience changes in their overall sense of relationship quality. These topics have predominantly been researched from the caring partner’s perspective therefore, this study aimed to explore how couples adapt to relati...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Dementia (London, England) England), 2019-08, Vol.18 (6), p.2158-2172
Main Authors: Colquhoun, Anna, Moses, Jennifer, Offord, Rosslyn
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptation, Psychological
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Dementia - psychology
Female
Grounded Theory
Humans
Interpersonal Relations
Interviews as Topic
Male
Middle Aged
Spouses - psychology
Spouses - statistics & numerical data
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Summary:Couples living with dementia face multiple losses in their relationship, and may experience changes in their overall sense of relationship quality. These topics have predominantly been researched from the caring partner’s perspective therefore, this study aimed to explore how couples adapt to relational losses to maintain quality in their relationship from the perspective of both partners. Using a constructivist grounded theory approach 10 spousal dyads, where one partner has a diagnosis of dementia, engaged in a joint interview. The results revealed three master themes: consolidating us, contextual positioning, and living well together, as well as an overarching theme of ‘turning to and away’. The findings are discussed in relation to theories of loss and family adaptation, and implications for clinical practice and future research are proposed.
ISSN:1471-3012
1741-2684
DOI:10.1177/1471301217744597