Abstract

This study examines how family climate supports one parent in coping with a spouse's long-term severe illness, focusing on the impact of family dynamics on coping strategies and personal growth. Such illnesses often disrupt family balance, creating stress for all members, with the healthy spouse relying on internal strengths and external resources.

The research addresses three key questions:

1. How can the coping process of the healthy parent be described when dealing with a partner’s long-term illness?
2. What family climate factors either hinder or support the coping process?
3. How do the meanings attributed to coping by the healthy parent relate to the family climate experienced during the illness?

A qualitative study, based on in-depth interviews with 16 parents (April–May 2023), identified two coping patterns: personal regression and growth. Participants highlighted family traits that either facilitated or hindered coping, emphasizing the interplay between family dynamics and individual responses.

Findings underscore the role of supportive family traits in fostering resilience and guiding individuals and families toward effective adaptation and growth during crises.

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