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Journal of Social and Personal Relationships
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An Exploration of Illness-Related Narratives in Marriage: The Identification of Illness-Identity Scripts

Kandi L. Walker

University of Louisville, kandi.walker{at}louisville.edu

Fran C. Dickson

University of Denver

This study describes illness-related talk in marriage. Both qualitative and quantitative methodologies were employed to identify and examine emergent themes of how couples talk about not feeling well. Fifty-three couples jointly participated in an open-ended interview and individually completed a series of questionnaires. Narrative analysis supports the notion that couples’ illness-related narratives are indicative of the couples’ relationship culture and identity. Five distinct couple types emerged from the illness-related scripts that the couples presented: the sympathetic couple, the independent couple, the mixed couple, the nonreciprocal couple, and the rejecting couple. Statistical analyses revealed several patterns of satisfaction and health perceptions that varied by sex.

Key Words: health communication • health talk • illness talk • marital communication • marriage • scripts

Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, Vol. 21, No. 4, 527-544 (2004)
DOI: 10.1177/0265407504044846
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