Centre for Policy on Ageing



A qualitative study of adjustment to caring for an older spouse with psychiatric illness
Author(s)	Joanna Murray, Gill Livingston
Journal title	Ageing and Society, vol 18, part 6, November 1998
Pages	pp 659-671
Keywords	Mental disorder ; Spouses as carers ; Emotions ; Adjustment ; Personal relationships ; Social surveys ; London.
Annotation	An understanding of ways in which older carers' perceptions of their marital relationship and duty to their spouse underlie adjustment to caregiving is required for the development of acceptable and efficacious services for spouse carers. With this aim, the authors conducted qualitative interviews with 20 spouses of older people with a mental illness identified in a representative inner London community study. While carers acknowledged distressing changes in their spouse, a history of reciprocity and intimacy emerged, comprising positive themes and perceived continuity, which favourably influenced adjustment to care-giving. Those who still experience closeness in the relationship see themselves as coping, and are reluctant to accept formal help. Others describe long-term unhappiness in marriage and experience feelings of entrapment in the role of carer. They require early and comprehensive services. Hypotheses regarding these themes are proposed. (RH).
Accession Number	CPA-990416002 A
Classmark	E: P6:SN: DL: DR: DS: 3F: 82L
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...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing.