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Relationship Satisfaction of Intimate Partners of Persons Living With Urinary Incontinence
Lori S Saiki1, Robin Meize-Grochowski
1Lori S. Saiki, PhD, RN, CCCN, College of Health and Social Services, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico. Robin Meize-Grochowski, PhD, RN, CNE, College of Nursing, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Summary
Urinary incontinence (UI) significantly impacts intimate relationships, particularly emotional and physical intimacy, in midlife women and their partners. Distress stems from coping mechanisms, not symptom severity.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Psychology
- Sociology
Background:
- Urinary incontinence (UI) affects many midlife women.
- The impact of UI on intimate relationships is not fully understood.
- Both women and their partners' perspectives are crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the effects of urinary incontinence (UI) on midlife women's relationships with their intimate partners.
- To explore the experiences from both the women's and their partners' viewpoints.
- To identify factors influencing relationship quality in the context of UI.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional, mixed-methods design involving 43 midlife couples.
- Participants completed questionnaires on demographics, UI severity, relationship quality, and open-ended questions.
- Validated instruments included the Incontinence Severity Index and Couples Satisfaction Index; quantitative and qualitative analyses were performed.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in relationship measures between women and partners.
- No significant association between UI symptom severity and relationship satisfaction.
- Distressed partners reported poorer sexual quality of life, relational ethics, and UI communication; withdrawal and avoidance of intimacy were reported by distressed couples.
Conclusions:
- Distressed couples highlight the negative effects of UI on emotional and physical intimacy.
- Relationship distress is linked to the woman's coping with UI symptoms, not the severity of the symptoms themselves.
- Effective coping strategies are essential for maintaining relationship quality in women with UI.
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