Relationship quality and balance of give-and-take in couples coping with Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract: The present study examined relationship quality and the balance of give-and-take in couples facing Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Couples facing MS were as satisfied with their relationship as healthy couples were. In general. marital satisfaction was high and did not indicate marital instability. With respect to the balance of give-and-take, patients felt, as expected, overbenefited in their relationship, whereas only female partners felt underbenefited. Male partners felt equitably treated. Although both patients and partners experienced changes in the division of tasks as a result of the MS that were consistent with a patient-caregiver division of roles, both partners reported that the ill partner was providing as much support to the healthy partner as before the onset of MS. The associations between equity and changes in the division of tasks on the one hand and relationship quality on the other hand not only showed that perceived balance of give-and-take is important for relationship quality but also that not only receiving benefits but also providing benefits may be satisfying. Finally, patient’s physical condition was found to be related to relationship characteristics concerning perceptions of give-and-take, whereas patient’s psychological condition was particularly related to the broader evaluation of relationship quality.