The couple relationship when the female partner has an acquired physical disability

Abstract

This study explored the stories told by three heterosexual couples in whom the females sustained an acquired physical disability in the course of their relationships. The stories presented related to the couples’ day-to-day functioning as individuals and dyads. Individual and joint semi-structured interviews were held with each participating couple. Thematic narrative analysis of the stories presented shows how coping post-disability was brought about by mutual and reciprocal circular patterns of interaction initiated and maintained within the couple relationship but influenced by the socio-cultural context. Whereas it was difficult to decipher which party had started off these processes, their occurrence over time limited the burden experienced by both parties because of the disability. The females in this study were empathic and endowed with a sense of gratitude whilst the males were caring and supportive. Both parties were determined to help out each other in times of need and to survive the disability ordeal as a couple even if this entailed self-sacrifice and -adjustment. The conclusions of this study speculate about practices and interventions which practitioners, clinicians and policy makers can adopt in supporting couples impacted by an acquired physical disability or other adversities.