The experience of men caring for a partner with multiple sclerosis

Purpose: The aim of this study was exploring the experience of male caregivers living with a partner with multiple sclerosis (MS). Design and Methods: A qualitative study was conducted following a grounded theory approach. Twenty-four men–husbands or partners of a woman diagnosed with MS–were interviewed in-depth. A thematic analysis was carried out and involved line-by-line coding with codes deriving from narratives. Findings: Five major themes emerged: caregiving as a full-time job; changes in the couple; the importance of social support and social life; gender specificities; and fear of the future. Conclusions: Results highlight the complexity of issues surrounding this specific form of caregiving. Social expectations referring to the marital relationship and to gender norms play a central role. Clinical Relevance: Findings can help in developing ad hoc interventions to support male spousal caregivers to care for their partners.