The study aims to investigate Multiple Sclerosis (MS) experiences of couples. Using a dyadic qualitative method, separate simultaneous interviews were conducted with 20 couples, including one partner with MS. The themes resulting from content analysis were examined in two categories: Convergent (anxiety about future, acceptance of MS and MS as an accelerator of the relationship) and divergent (sexual problems, the experience of MS symptoms, the priority of the problems and untold issues). The findings revealed shared and unique perspectives of partners in the illness process, having the potential to guide the psychosocial interventions for couples living with a chronic illness.
AnagnostouliMKatsavosSArtemiadisA, et al. (2016) Determinants of stigma in a cohort of Hellenic patients suffering from multiple sclerosis: A cross-sectional study. BMC Neurology16: 8–12.
2.
AntoinePFlinoisBDobaK, et al. (2018) Living as a couple with anorexia nervosa: A dyadic interpretative phenomenological analysis. Journal of Health Psychology23(14): 1842–1852.
3.
AppletonDRobertsonNMitchellL, et al. (2018) Our disease: A qualitative meta-synthesis of the experiences of spousal/partner caregivers of people with multiple sclerosis. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences32(4): 1262–1278.
4.
BarskovaTOesterreichR (2009) Post-traumatic growth in people living with a serious medical condition and its relations to physical and mental health: A systematic review. Disability and Rehabilitation31(21): 1709–1733.
5.
BassiMFalautanoMCiliaS, et al. (2016) Illness perception and well-being among persons with Multiple Sclerosis and their caregivers. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings23(1): 33–52.
6.
BergCAUpchurchR (2007) A developmental-contextual model of couples coping with chronic illness across the adult life span. Psychological Bulletin133(6): 920–954.
7.
BirnbaumG (2013) Multiple Sclerosis: Clinician’s Guide to Diagnosis and Treatment, 2nd edn.New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
8.
BlackRDorstynD (2015) A biopsychosocial model of resilience for multiple sclerosis. Journal of Health Psychology20(11): 1434–1444.
9.
BlackmoreDEHartSLAlbianiJJ, et al. (2011) Improvements in partner support predict sexual satisfaction among individuals with Multiple Sclerosis. Rehabilitation Psychology56(2): 117–122.
10.
BodenmannG (2005) Dyadic coping and its significance for marital functioning. In: RevensonTAKayserKBodenmannG (eds) Decade of Behavior. Couples Coping with Stress: Emerging Perspectives on Dyadic Coping. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, pp.33–49.
11.
BodenmannGHilpertPBradburyTN (2014) Enhancement of couples’ communication and dyadic coping by a self-directed approach: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology82(4): 580–591.
12.
BogartKR (2015) Disability identity predicts lower anxiety and depression in Multiple Sclerosis. Rehabilitation Psychology60(1): 105–109.
13.
BolandPLevackWMMHudsonS, et al. (2012) Coping with multiple sclerosis as a couple: “Peaks and troughs” − an interpretative phenomenological exploration. Disability & Rehabilitation34: 1367–1375.
14.
BolandPLevackWMMHudsonS, et al. (2018) A qualitative exploration of barriers and facilitators to coping experienced by couples when one has multiple sclerosis. International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation25(5): 240–246.
15.
BorreaniCBianchiEPietrolongoE, et al. (2014) Unmet needs of people with severe multiple sclerosis and their carers: Qualitative findings for a home-based intervention. PLoS One9(10): e109679.
16.
CraytonHJRossmanHS (2006) Managing the symptoms of multiple sclerosis: A multimodal approach. Clinical Therapeutics28: 445–460.
17.
DesboroughJBrunoroCParkinsonA, et al. (2020) ‘It struck at the heart of who I thought I was’: A meta-synthesis of the qualitative literature examining the experiences of people with multiple sclerosis. Health Expectations23(5): 1007–1027.
18.
EisikovitsZKorenC (2010) Approaches to and outcomes of dyadic interview analysis. Qualitative Health Research20: 1642–1655.
19.
EsmailSHuangJLeeI, et al. (2010) Couple’s experiences when men are diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in the context of their sexual relationship. Sexuality and Disability28: 15–27.
20.
EsmailSMunroBGibsonN (2007) Couple’s experiences with multiple sclerosis in the context of their sexual relationship. Sexuality and Disability2: 163–177.
21.
GerhardLDorstynDSMurphyG, et al. (2020) Neurological, physical and sociodemographic correlates of employment in multiple sclerosis: A meta-analysis. Journal of Health Psychology25(1): 92–104.
22.
HemmettLHolmesJBarnesM, et al. (2004) What drives quality of life in multiple sclerosis?Quarterly Journal of Medicine97: 671–676.
23.
HunterRParryBThomasC (2020) Fears for the future: A qualitative exploration of the experiences of individuals living with multiple sclerosis, and its impact upon the family from the perspective of the person with MS. British Journal of Health Psychology26(2): 464–481.
24.
LyonsKSLeeCS (2018) The theory of dyadic illness management. Journal of Family Nursing24(1): 8–28.
25.
KargiotisOPaschaliAMessinisL, et al. (2010) Quality of life in multiple sclerosis: Effects of current treatment options. International Review of Psychiatry22(1): 67–82.
26.
KiropoulosLWardNRozenblatV (2019) Self-concept, illness acceptance and depressive and anxiety symptoms in people with multiple sclerosis. Journal of Health Psychology. Epub ahead of print 24 August 2019. DOI: 10.1177/1359105319871639.
27.
McPhetersJSandbergJG (2010) The relationship among couple relationship quality, physical functioning, and depression in Multiple Sclerosis patients and partners. Families, Systems and Health28(1): 48–68.
28.
MaguireRHanlyPMaguireP (2019) Living well with chronic illness: How social support, loneliness and psychological appraisals relate to well-being in a population-based European sample. Journal of Health Psychology. Epub ahead of print 24 October 2019. DOI: 10.1177/1359105319883923.
29.
MasoudiRKhayeriFRabieiL, et al. (2017) A study of stigma among Iranian family caregivers of patients with multiple sclerosis: A descriptive explorative qualitative study. Applied Nursing Research34: 1–6.
30.
Merghati-KhoeiEQaderiKAminiL, et al. (2013) Sexual problems among women with multiple sclerosis. Journal of the Neurological Sciences331: 81–85.
31.
MikulaPNagyovaIVitkovaM, et al. (2018) Management of multiple sclerosis: The role of coping self-efficacy and self-esteem. Psychology, Health and Medicine23(8): 964–969.
PakenhamKISamiosC (2013) Couples coping with multiple sclerosis: A dyadic perspective on the roles of mindfulness and acceptance. Journal of Behavioral Medicine36: 389–400.
34.
ReedJM (2006) Not crossing the extra line: How cohabitors with children view their unions. Journal of Marriage and the Family68: 1117–1131.
35.
SamiosCPakenhamKIBrienJO, et al. (2015) A dyadic and longitudinal investigation of adjustment in couples coping with Multiple Sclerosis. Annual Behavioral Medicine49(1): 74–83.
36.
StarksHMorrisMAYorkstonKM, et al. (2010) Being in-or out-of-sync: Couples’ adaptation to change in multiple sclerosis. Disability and Rehabilitation32(3): 196–206.
37.
StuifbergenABeckerHBlozisS, et al. (2008) Conceptualization and development of the acceptance of chronic health conditions scale. Issues in Mental Health Nursing29(2): 101–114.
38.
ValvanoAKRollockMJHudsonWH, et al. (2018) Sexual communication, sexual satisfaction, and relationship quality in people with multiple sclerosis.Rehabilitation Psychology63(2): 267–275.
39.
WawrzicznyECorrairieAAntoineP (2021) Relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: An interpretative phenomenological analysis of dyadic dynamics. Disability and Rehabilitation43(1): 76–84.
40.
WilligC (2013) Introducing Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3rd edn.Maidenhead: McGraw Hill.
41.
WoodBvan der MeiIAFPonsonbyAL, et al. (2013) Prevalence and concurrence of anxiety, depression and fatigue over time in multiple sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis Journal19: 217–224.
Supplementary Material
Please find the following supplemental material available below.
For Open Access articles published under a Creative Commons License, all supplemental material carries the same license as the article it is associated with.
For non-Open Access articles published, all supplemental material carries a non-exclusive license, and permission requests for re-use of supplemental material or any part of supplemental material shall be sent directly to the copyright owner as specified in the copyright notice associated with the article.
