Department of Gerontology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, USA.
Department of Psychology, Saint Anselm College, Manchester, NH, USA.
Aging Ment Health. 2020 Sep;24(9):1429-1436. doi: 10.1080/13607863.2019.1594168. Epub 2019 Apr 3.
Spousal caregiving is increasingly common, and it is a role that can alter the nature of marriage in later life. Some may find spousal caregiving to be distressing, while others may have more positive experiences. Spousal caregiving, in particular, may be difficult due to caregiver burden as well as a loss of couplehood within the relationship. The current study used grounded theory methods to better understand the experience of and changes in couplehood among spousal caregivers. Thirteen spousal caregivers completed semi-structured interviews. Spousal caregivers ranged in age from 53 to 85 (mean age = 66.00, SD = 9.04). Qualitative analysis revealed four major themes upon evaluation of the interviews (couplehood, positive mindset, later life roles and transitions, and looking towards the future). These themes exemplified the complex interplay of couplehood and caregiving as well as the range of perceptions of couplehood. Results showed that while some caregivers struggle to find meaning and happiness within their caregiver role, and others said the illness/impairment bonded them together. Caregivers who reported a low sense couplehood discussed feeling trapped in their relationship, sad, and isolated. For some caregivers, a strong sense of couplehood may have helped them reframe the experience as an opportunity to be a role model for others and a reminder that their situation could be worse. Future research should focus on pre-illness couplehood and whether the nature of the impairment (e.g., cognitive, physical) is related to caregiver's couplehood.
配偶护理日益普遍，它改变了晚年婚姻的性质。有些人可能觉得配偶护理令人痛苦，而另一些人可能有更积极的体验。配偶护理尤其困难，因为护理者负担过重，以及夫妻关系中夫妻身份的丧失。本研究采用扎根理论方法，更好地理解配偶护理者的夫妻关系体验和变化。13 名配偶护理者完成了半结构化访谈。配偶护理者的年龄从 53 岁到 85 岁不等（平均年龄=66.00，标准差=9.04）。通过对访谈的评估，定性分析揭示了四个主要主题（夫妻关系、积极心态、晚年角色和转变、展望未来）。这些主题体现了夫妻关系和护理之间的复杂相互作用以及对夫妻关系的不同看法。结果表明，虽然一些护理者在护理角色中难以找到意义和幸福，而另一些护理者则表示疾病/障碍使他们更加紧密地联系在一起。报告夫妻关系感较低的护理者表示感到被困在他们的关系中，感到悲伤和孤立。对一些护理者来说，强烈的夫妻关系感可能帮助他们重新定义这种体验，将其视为成为他人榜样的机会，并提醒他们的情况可能更糟。未来的研究应关注疾病前的夫妻关系，以及损伤的性质（例如认知、身体）是否与护理者的夫妻关系有关。
