Socio-Psychological Impacts of Terminal Illness on Patients and their Spousal Relationship

Abstract

This phenomenological study was conducted to explore the im- pacts of terminal illness on patients and familial relationships of couples in Pakhtun society. 36 terminally ill patients selected purposively were interviewed separately (24 male & 12 female patients) by the way of open-ended questions. Numerous themes were extracted following verbatim transcripts. All the participants explained the impacts of terminal illness on their social lives and the positive and negative aspects of their spousal relationship. Depression, anger and desperation were apparent in the terminal patients. Similarly bitterness, guilt, persistent sadness and loss were common in the patients and alternatively in their partners as explained by the patients. This research highlights adistinct viewpoint on the damaging influences which terminal illness can have on the marital rela- tionship. However it also recommends how to deal the situation in apositive manner by making adjustments required by the concerned disease. The findings indicate that social scientists need to confess and reply to the incredible psycho-social im- pacts that serious illnesses and related medical procedures can have on the patients and their families even in this modern era of advance technology. Advance social and psychotherapeutic techniques and socio-psychological support of partners can as- sist such patients to live with apositive life style till the end.