romantic relationships

Background: The consequences of a brain injury can introduce ripple effects within a family for years after the initial event. Objectives: In this study, we focused on the experiences of couples negotiating their relationship after stroke. Methods: We specifically concentrated on the changes to couples' interdependence and the relational ramifications of those changes.

Using a sample of 312 people in a romantic relationship with a partner who has a spinal cord injury (SCI), this study examined the separate and combined effects of caregiving tasks, resilience, and received support on the participant's level of psychosocial distress. We also tested whether such distress might mediate the effect of the predictors on romantic relationship closeness. Results supported the beneficial effects of both resilience and receiving high-quality support, although the timing of the injury moderated these effects.