Lived experiences of couples in a relationship where one partner is diagnosed with a mental illness.
Andile G Mokoena, Marie Poggenpoel, Chris Myburgh and 1 others
PMID 31588763WHAT IT FOUND
Five couples described how one partner's mental illness reshaped their relationship.
The well partner took on more household and financial roles, while both partners reported emotional strain, reduced intimacy, and increased interpersonal distance. These are lived experiences, not outcomes of treatment.
Key findings
01Partners without mental illness assumed more household responsibilities and became the primary family providers, leading to strained financial decisions.
02Both partners reported emotional upheaval: the ill partner felt guilt and insecurity, while the well partner felt frustration, fear of violence, and isolation.
03Relationships experienced increased interpersonal distance, characterized by frequent fighting, diminished communication, and declined sexual intimacy.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The sample size was very small (five couples), limiting the transferability of findings to other contexts. Participants were recruited from a single specialized mental health institution in South Africa, which may affect the generalizability of the experiences described. Some partners without mental illness were uncomfortable sharing personal experiences, though the researchers recruited others to mitigate this. As a qualitative study, it describes perceptions and experiences but does not measure clinical outcomes or the effectiveness of interventions.
Declared interests
The paper does not explicitly state funding sources or conflicts of interest in the provided text, but notes ethical clearance from academic committees.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret these themes as evidence of treatment efficacy or as a standardized outcome measure for couples. These are subjective experiences from a small, specific sample, not a generalizable model of how all couples with mental illness will behave or respond to care.