Spousal perspective of Parkinson's disease in middle life

An interpretive study in America explored the experience of living with a p artner who has Parkinson's disease (PD) in middle life. Challenges experien ced by eight spouses and their ways of coping with these challenges were ex amined. The convenience sample of five wives and three husbands were 44-58 years and had been married 4 months to 30 years. Spouses described the most significant challenges as watching their partner struggle and be frustrate d; and renegotiating their lives. The coping strategies most frequently use d were maintaining their own life, encouraging their partner to stay active and involved, and seeing the challenges they experienced as secondary. The context of living with a partner with Parkinson's disease is illuminated a nd strategies that spouses find most effective in coping with their partner s illness are identified.