Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2brh9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T13:22:29.641Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Relational Resilience: Intimate and Romantic Relationship Experiences of Women with Serious Mental Illness

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 February 2019

Lauren Mizock ,
Kat La Mar ,
Lynne DeMartini  and
Janette Stringer
Lauren Mizock*
Affiliation:
Fielding Graduate University, Santa Barbara, California, USA
Kat La Mar
Affiliation:
Fielding Graduate University, Santa Barbara, California, USA
Lynne DeMartini
Affiliation:
Fielding Graduate University, Santa Barbara, California, USA
Janette Stringer
Affiliation:
Fielding Graduate University, Santa Barbara, California, USA
*
Address for correspondence: Lauren Mizock, Fielding Graduate University, 2020 De La Vina St, Santa Barbara, CA 93105, USA. Email: [email protected]
Get access

Abstract

The present qualitative study was conducted with 20 women with serious mental illness (SMI) in order to better characterise their romantic and intimate relationship experiences. Grounded theory methodology directed the identification of intimate and romantic relationships themes for women with SMI, which included the following: function matching, pathologising problems, symptom interference, dating deal breakers, sexual foreclosure, dating deprioritised, and relational resilience strategies. Clinical implications and future research directions are discussed.

Keywords

womenserious mental illnessmental healthrelationshipsromanticintimate
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Relationships Research , Volume 10 , 2019 , e5
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2019 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Aschbrenner, K., Mueser, K., Bartels, S., Carpenter-Song, E., Pratt, S., Barre, L., … Kinney, A. (2015). The other 23 hours: A qualitative study of fitness provider perspectives on social support for health promotion for adults with mental illness. Health & Social Work, 40, 91–99.Google Scholar
Bonfils, K.A., Firmin, R.L., Salyers, M.P., & Wright, E.R. (2015). Sexuality and intimacy among people living with serious mental illnesses: Factors contributing to sexual activity. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 38, 249–255.Google Scholar
Borba, C.P.C., DePadilla, L., McCarty, F.A., von Esenwein, S.A., Druss, B.G., & Sterk, C.E. (2012). A qualitative study examining the perceived barriers and facilitators to medical healthcare services among women with a serious mental illness. Women's Health Issues, 22, e217–e224.Google Scholar
Boucher, M., Groleau, D., & Whitley, R. (2016). Recovery and severe mental illness: The role of romantic relationships, intimacy, and sexuality. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 39, 180.Google Scholar
Brown, A., Lubman, D.I., & Paxton, S.J. (2011). Reducing sexually-transmitted infection risk in young people with first-episode psychosis. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 20, 12–20.Google Scholar
Campbell, J.C. (2002). Health consequences of intimate partner violence. The Lancet, 359, 1331–1336.Google Scholar
Charmaz, K. (2011). A Constructivist grounded theory analysis of losing and regaining a valued self. In Wertz, F.J., Charmaz, K., McMullen, L.M., Josselson, R., Anderson, R., & McSpadden, E. (Eds.), Five ways of doing qualitative analysis: Phenomenological psychology, grounded theory, discourse analysis, narrative research, and intuitive inquiry (pp. 165–204). New York, NY: Guilford Press.Google Scholar
Cogan, J.C. (1998). The consumer as expert: Women with serious mental illness and their relationship-based needs. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 22, 142–154.Google Scholar
Corbin, J., & Strauss, A. (2008). Basics of qualitative research (3rd Edition). Los Angeles, CA: Sage.Google Scholar
Corrigan, P.W., & Shapiro, J.R. (2010). Measuring the impact of programs that challenge the public stigma of mental illness. Clinical Psychology Review, 30, 907–922.Google Scholar
de Jager, J., van Greevenbroek, R., Nugter, A., & van Os, J. (2018) Sexual expression and its determinants in people diagnosed with psychotic disorders. Community Mental Health Journal, 54, 1082–1088.Google Scholar
Edwards, D.J., Dattilio, F.M., & Bromley, D.B. (2004). Developing evidence-based practice: The role of case-based research. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 35, 589–597.Google Scholar
Estroff, S.E., Zimmer, C., Lachicotte, W.S., & Benoit, J. (1994). The influence of social networks and social support on violence by persons with serious mental illness. Psychiatric Services, 45, 669–679.Google Scholar
Friedman, S.H., Loue, S., Goldman Heaphy, E.L., & Mendez, N. (2011). Intimate partner violence victimization and perpetration by Puerto Rican women with severe mental illnesses. Community Mental Health Journal, 47, 156–163.Google Scholar
Glaser, B.G. & Strauss, A. (1967). The discovery of grounded theory: Strategies for qualitative research. Chicago, IL: Transaction Publishers.Google Scholar
Goodman, L.A., Rosenberg, S.D., Mueser, K.T., & Drake, R.E. (1997). Physical and sexual assault history in women with serious mental illness: Prevalence, correlates, treatment, and future research directions. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 23, 685–696.Google Scholar
Goodman, L.A., Salyers, M.P., Mueser, K.T., Rosenberg, S.D., Swartz, M., Essock, S.M., … Swanson, J. (2001). Recent victimization in women and men with severe mental illness: prevalence and correlates. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 14, 615–632.Google Scholar
Heydarian, N. (2016). Developing theory with the grounded-theory approach and thematicanalysis. Observer, 29, 38–39.Google Scholar
Huguelet, P., Mohr, S., Miserez, C., Castellano, P., Lutz, C., Boucherie, M., …, Demicheli, F.B. (2015). An exploration of sexual desire and sexual activities of women with psychosis. Community Mental Health Journal, 51, 229–238.Google Scholar
Johnson, D.L. (1997). Overview of severe mental illness. Clinical Psychology Review, 17, 247–257.Google Scholar
Khalifeh, H., Moran, P., Borschmann, R., Dean, K., Hart, C., Hogg, J., … Howard, L.M. (2015). Domestic and sexual violence against patients with severe mental illness. Psychological Medicine, 45, 875–886.Google Scholar
Link, B.G., Struening, E., Cullen, F.T., Shrout, P.E., & Dohrenwend, B.P. (1989). A modified labeling theory approach to mental disorders: An empirical assessment. American Sociological Review, 54, 400–423.Google Scholar
Linz, S.J., & Sturm, B.A. (2013). The phenomenon of social isolation in the severely mentally ill. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, 49, 243–254.Google Scholar
McCann, E. (2010a). The sexual and relationship needs of people who experience psychosis: Quantitative findings of a UK study. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 17, 295–303.Google Scholar
McCann, E. (2010b). Investigating mental health service user views regarding sexual and relationship issues. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 17, 251–259.Google Scholar
MacDonald, E., Sauer, K., Howie, L., & Albiston, D. (2005). What happens to social relationships in early psychosis? A phenomenological study of young people's experiences. Journal of Mental Health, 14, 129–143.Google Scholar
Manuel, J.I., Hinterland, K., Conover, S., & Herman, D.B. (2012). ‘I hope I can make it out there’: Perceptions of women with severe mental illness on the transition from hospital to community. Community Mental Health Journal, 48, 302–308.Google Scholar
Mason, M. (2010). Sample size and saturation in PhD studies using qualitative interviews. Forum: Qualitative Social Research, 11, Article No. 8.Google Scholar
Matevosyan, N.R. (2010). Evaluation of perceived sexual functioning in women with serious mental illnesses. Sexuality and Disability, 28, 233–243.Google Scholar
Miklowitz, D.J. (2002). The bipolar disorder survival guide: What you and your family need to know. New York, NY: Guilford Press.Google Scholar
Mizock, L., & Russinova, Z. (2015). Intersectional stigma and the acceptance process of women with serious mental illness. Women & Therapy, 38, 14–30.Google Scholar
Mowbray, C.T., Bybee, D., Hollingsworth, L., Goodkind, S., & Oyserman, D. (2005). Living arrangements and social support: Effects on the well-being of mothers with mental illness. Social Work Research, 29, 41–55.Google Scholar
Morrow, S.L. (2005). Quality and trustworthiness in qualitative research in counseling psychology. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 52, 250–260.Google Scholar
National Institute of Mental Health [NIMH]. (2016). Prevalence of serious mental illness. Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/mental-illness.shtmlGoogle Scholar
Padgett, D.K., Henwood, B., Abrams, C., & Drake, R.E. (2008). Social relationships among persons who have experienced serious mental illness, substance abuse, and homelessness: Implications for recovery. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 78, 333–339.Google Scholar
Perry, B.L., & Wright, E.R. (2006). The sexual partnerships of people with serious mental illness. Journal of Sex Research, 43, 174–181.Google Scholar
Pickens, J. (1999). Social networks for women with serious mental illness. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing & Mental Health Services, 37, 30–38.Google Scholar
Pico-Alfonso, M.A., Garcia-Linares, M.I., Celda-Navarro, N., Blasco-Ros, C., Echeburúa, E., & Martinez, M. (2006). The impact of physical, psychological, and sexual intimate male partner violence on women's mental health: Depressive symptoms, posttraumatic stress disorder, state anxiety, and suicide. Journal of Women's Health, 15, 599–611.Google Scholar
Polkinghorne, D.E. (2007). Validity issues in narrative research. Qualitative Inquiry, 13, 471–486.Google Scholar
Post, L.L. (1994). Sexual side effects of psychiatric medication in women: A clinical review. Jefferson Journal of Psychiatry, 12, 74–81.Google Scholar
Pratt, S.I., Bartels, S.J., Mueser, K.T., & Forester, B. (2008). Helping older people experience success: An integrated model of psychosocial rehabilitation and health care management for older people with serious mental illness. American Journal of Psychiatric Rehabilitation, 11, 41–60.Google Scholar
Ramalho, R., Adams, P, Huggard, P. & Hoare, K. (2015). Literature review and constructivist grounded theory methodology. Forum: Qualitative Social Research, 16, Article no. 19.Google Scholar
Riessman, C.K. (1993). Narrative analysis. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.Google Scholar
Ritsher, J.E., Coursey, R.D., & Farrell, E.W. (1997). A survey on issues in the lives of women with severe mental illness. Psychiatric Services, 48, 1273–1282.Google Scholar
Rogers, E.S., Anthony, W., & Lyass, A. (2004). The Nature and dimensions of social support among individuals with severe mental illnesses. Community Mental Health Journal, 40, 437–450.Google Scholar
Scheyett, A.M., & McCarthy, E. (2006). Women and men with mental illnesses: Voicing different service needs. Affilia, 21, 407–418.Google Scholar
Schön, U.K. (2010). Recovery from severe mental illness, a gender perspective. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, 24, 557–564.Google Scholar
Seeman, M.V. (2015). Sexual minority women in treatment for serious mental illness: A literature review. Journal of Gay & Lesbian Mental Health, 19, 303–319.Google Scholar
Shefer, G., Henderson, C., Howard, L.M., Murray, J., & Thornicroft, G. (2014). Diagnostic overshadowing and other challenges involved in the diagnostic process of patients with mental illness who present in emergency departments with physical symptoms–a qualitative study. PLoS One, 9, e111682.Google Scholar
Suddaby, R. (2006). From the editors: What grounded theory is not. Academy of Management Journal, 49, 633–642.Google Scholar
Swanson, J.W., Swartz, M.S., Essock, S.M., Osher, F.C., Wagner, H.R., Goodman, L.A., … Meador, K.G. (2002). The social–environmental context of violent behavior in persons treated for severe mental illness. American Journal of Public Health, 92, 1523–1531.Google Scholar
Trevillion, K., Oram, S., Feder, G., & Howard, L.M. (2012). Experiences of domestic violence and mental disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PLOS One, 7, e51740.Google Scholar
Virtzberg-Rofè, D., Rofè, T., & Rudnick, A. (2014). Free online dating site for people with mental illness. Psychiatric Services, 65, 1178.Google Scholar
World Health Organization (WHO]). (2000). Women's mental health: An evidence based review. Retrieved from http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/66539/1/WHO_MSD_MDP_00.1.pdfGoogle Scholar
Wright, E.R., Wright, D.E., Perry, B.L., & Foote-Ardah, C.E. (2007). Stigma and the sexual isolation of people with serious mental illness. Social Problems, 54, 78–98.Google Scholar
Yanos, P.T., West, M.L., Gonzales, L., Smith, S.M., Roe, D., & Lysaker, P.H. (2012). Change in internalized stigma and social functioning among persons diagnosed with severe mental illness. Psychiatry Research, 200, 1032–1034.Google Scholar