Change of identity: the psychological and emotional impact of caring for someone with multiple sclerosis
The diagnosis of a chronic progressive condition such as multiple sclerosis (MS) can impact on many aspects of daily life. Living with, and caring for, an individual with such a condition is likely to have emotional and psychological consequences. We carried out semi-structured interviews with nine...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
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Pier Professional Ltd
2011
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/12831 |
| _version_ | 1848748186024280064 |
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| author | Heward, K. Gough, B. Molineux, Matthew |
| author_facet | Heward, K. Gough, B. Molineux, Matthew |
| author_sort | Heward, K. |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | The diagnosis of a chronic progressive condition such as multiple sclerosis (MS) can impact on many aspects of daily life. Living with, and caring for, an individual with such a condition is likely to have emotional and psychological consequences. We carried out semi-structured interviews with nine partners and analysed the interview transcripts using grounded theory (Strauss & Corbin, 1998), the phase presented in this article formed part of a larger overall study that explored the impact of living with MS for partners and a family. Our analysis in this phase highlights two core themes centred on identity issues faced by the participants: ‘playing detective’ in order to acquire information and manage the situation; and ‘reshaping identities’ in a shifting context, which reflected the participants' difficulties in reconfiguring important identities (at work and at home). Although previous research has addressed how carers cope, there is a dearth of qualitative literature relating to whether or not partners' identities are affected by taking a central role in caring, including how previous identities are maintained and new ones acquired. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T07:01:02Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-12831 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T07:01:02Z |
| publishDate | 2011 |
| publisher | Pier Professional Ltd |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-128312017-09-13T15:54:08Z Change of identity: the psychological and emotional impact of caring for someone with multiple sclerosis Heward, K. Gough, B. Molineux, Matthew The diagnosis of a chronic progressive condition such as multiple sclerosis (MS) can impact on many aspects of daily life. Living with, and caring for, an individual with such a condition is likely to have emotional and psychological consequences. We carried out semi-structured interviews with nine partners and analysed the interview transcripts using grounded theory (Strauss & Corbin, 1998), the phase presented in this article formed part of a larger overall study that explored the impact of living with MS for partners and a family. Our analysis in this phase highlights two core themes centred on identity issues faced by the participants: ‘playing detective’ in order to acquire information and manage the situation; and ‘reshaping identities’ in a shifting context, which reflected the participants' difficulties in reconfiguring important identities (at work and at home). Although previous research has addressed how carers cope, there is a dearth of qualitative literature relating to whether or not partners' identities are affected by taking a central role in caring, including how previous identities are maintained and new ones acquired. 2011 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/12831 10.5042/scn.2011.0081 Pier Professional Ltd restricted |
| spellingShingle | Heward, K. Gough, B. Molineux, Matthew Change of identity: the psychological and emotional impact of caring for someone with multiple sclerosis |
| title | Change of identity: the psychological and emotional impact of caring for someone with multiple sclerosis |
| title_full | Change of identity: the psychological and emotional impact of caring for someone with multiple sclerosis |
| title_fullStr | Change of identity: the psychological and emotional impact of caring for someone with multiple sclerosis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Change of identity: the psychological and emotional impact of caring for someone with multiple sclerosis |
| title_short | Change of identity: the psychological and emotional impact of caring for someone with multiple sclerosis |
| title_sort | change of identity: the psychological and emotional impact of caring for someone with multiple sclerosis |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/12831 |