Making meaning by sacrifice – self and relationship commitment in Finnish spouses and partners of people with mental illness

A person’s mental illness burdens their spouse or partner in multiple ways and significantly increases the risk that couple will divorce. However, scant research exists about impact of on spouses’ experience self relationship commitment. The author investigates how 16 Finnish, heterosexual spouses partners people with make meaning out commitment, including role religion this making. data was gathered through narrative, semi-structured interviews analysed a narrative approach. For these partners, sacrifice central to They drew marital sanctification, justification coping. results show importance health care supporting spouses' separateness from as an avenue expressing This finding highlights need invest couple-centred approaches care.