Spouses Likely To Have The Same Mental Health Conditions? Psychologists Shed Light

When we are sharing our life with our spouse, we are sharing more than just our living space. It is often believed that spouses or long-term live-in partners are likely to share even the same mental health conditions. No matter how bizarre it may sound, it is true. Partners are likely to develop the same psychiatric disorders, and this can be caused due to various factors. Want to know all about it? Read on.

To get a comprehensive picture of this topic, we reached out to our experts – Dr Sumit Grover, Licensed Clinical Psychologist & Life Coach, New York and Dr Snigdha Sood, Counselling Psychologist, Expressive Arts Therapist, MA Psychology (Clinical), Banaras Hindu University, Consulting Psychologist (Everbloom Healthcare Pvt Ltd).

Spouses May Have The Same Psychiatric Disorders?

Many studies have shown that couples are likely to be diagnosed with the same psychiatric disorders. Let us now hear it from our experts whether it is true or not.

“Partners are not inherently predisposed to experience the same psychiatric disorders, but circumstances can increase the likelihood of both partners experiencing the same issues. One common example of this is emotional contagion, which is favorably defined as the way one partner’s stress, anxiety, or mood impacts the other partner in the partnership. Additionally, they may also experience similar life events, such as financial issues, caregiving, or trauma, which may also be similar vulnerabilities,” explains Dr Sood.

Dr Grover enlightens us about assortative mating. She says, “Assortative mating is a tendency to select partners with similar psychological profiles — and, in some instances, shared genetic predispositions that contribute to diagnostic overlap among couples.”

How One Partner’s Mental Health Affects Another

Dr Sood shares that indeed the state of our mental health is frequently tied to the wellbeing of our partner. “Sharing a living space with someone struggling with their emotional health may create stress, concern, or emotional fatigue over time,” she adds.

“One partner's distress reverberates emotionally and physiologically in the other. On the other hand, an emotionally regulated and resilient partner can offer protective effects, decreasing one's own distress through co-regulation and secure attachment dynamics. The mental health of one partner influences the other on at least three dimensions: mechanisms such as empathic attunement, emotional contagion, and shared stress appraisal,” explains Dr Grover.

She further adds ways to deal with it: “Healthy communication, clear boundaries, and mutual support are needed to minimize these ill effects and nurture emotional well-being.”

Healthy Relationships Are Good For Mental Health

Just like one partner’s deteriorating mental health can impact another, it is also true the other way round. “A supportive relationship that is characterized by trust, understanding and open communication can be a very powerful source of support. When partners feel heard, accepted and understood they are much more likely to adhere to treatment plans for recovery, become engaged in therapy, and sustain motivation for the recovery process. Emotional reassurance, collaborative coping strategies, and consistency in daily interactions can make symptoms more manageable and improve overall wellbeing for both individuals,” shares Dr Sood.

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Supporting a Partner With Mental Illness

Dr Grover jots down some points for those who want to support their partner, who is battling mental illness:

• Effective support requires a balance between empathic involvement and the maintenance of self-boundaries.
• The focus should be on active listening, non-judgmental presence, and encouragement of professional intervention, including family or couples therapy.
• Psycho-education regarding the condition of the partner builds up understanding and appropriate expectations.
• Due to the risk of emotional enmeshment and caregiver burnout, attention is to be given to self-care, peer or therapeutic support, and personal boundaries.
• Compassion without over-identification sustains psychological equilibrium for both partners.

Dr Sood shares assisting a partner experiencing mental health issues can be both rewarding and exhausting. “While we need to hear them out, we do not need to feel the pressure to ‘fix’ them. While we might encourage getting help, our own well being needs to take priority since we cannot solve their mental health issues by ourselves. We need to set positive emotional boundaries, invest time for ourselves, and consider professional guidance from a counselor or support group to avoid compassion fatigue. Remember, you can offer love and stability, but your partner’s healing is ultimately their own journey,” the expert explains.

How to Create a Healthy Environment For Your Partner

Dr Grover shares some simple ways partners can support each other’s mental health:

• Create an open, stable, and emotionally safe atmosphere.
• If needed, professional therapy and prescribed medications could be resorted to.
• Foster positivity, structure, and mutual respect-trust.
• Never criticize or judge.
• Set small achievable goals.
• Make calm, no-stress areas; continue with healthy routines.
• Find activities to share together that help each other reduce tension build-up.

Also Read: Does Meditation Help Marriage? Parmeet Sethi Shares How One Session Saved His Marriage with Archana Puran Singh

The Final Word

The mental health of one partner influences the other. But partners are not inherently predisposed to experience the same psychiatric disorders; rather, circumstances can increase the likelihood of both partners experiencing the same issues.