How Long-Term Couples Cope with Chronic Stressors and Adverse Life Course Events in Marriage: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

This study documents the stressors and events threatening to dissolve marriages, and the coping mechanisms couples employed to help their marriage survive. Data was drawn from interviews with 180 coupled individuals married 40+ years, from 24 countries. Major threats included (1) death or severe illness of a child (2) infidelity (3) chronic mental illness (4) in-law issues (5) prolonged time apart. The primary coping mechanisms were (1) effective communication, (2) drawing closer, (3) persevering together (4) prioritizing the relationship. This study provides new data to articulate the together-coping mechanisms couples use to strengthen attachment.