“Just be here”: An interpretative phenomenological analysis of couples’ experiences of dyadic coping in multiple sclerosis

Couples are typically affected by Multiple Sclerosis (MS) as a dyad, with both partners involved in managing the disease. This study explored couples’ shared experiences of coping with MS, with a focus on the dyadic narrative. Eleven couples participated in joint interviews and individual follow-on interviews. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) identified three themes: Interacting individual and dyadic coping experiences, evolving communication and understanding, and regaining control through the dyadic experience. The findings highlighted the interconnected individual and dyadic coping processes, which shaped each couples’ unique experience of MS. When stress was not clearly communicated, couples often misinterpreted the others’ needs and difficulties, which often led to a period of emotional distancing in the relationship. Developing new ways to communicate over time supported couples to move towards a more aligned approach to coping with MS as a dyadic coping system. Limitations are discussed, including the use of a well-educated, self-selected sample of couples, where all relationships exceeded seven years. Clinical and research implications are discussed, including the value of exploring a diverse range of communication strategies, that may continue to evolve over the disease course.