Self-care experiences of male spouses of people with dementia: a descriptive phenomenological study

Objectives: To explore the essential structure of self-care experiences of male spouses who provide caregiving to their spouses with dementia. Method: This study utilized Giorgi’s phenomenological method to explore the essential structure of self-care experience among five male spouses. Results: The structure consists of four common constituents: construction of self-care meaning as a shared body with the spouse, perception of inevitable change due to an unstable situation, building new patterns of care, and repetitive reflection and encouragement for improving self-care. Conclusion: The study findings contribute to a holistic understanding of the cognitive framework underlying self-care experiences among male caregivers who provide care for spouses with dementia. The findings highlight current self-care practices of male spouses, and they provide foundational qualitative insights that can inform the design of interventions and support strategies aimed at promoting self-care in this population through the use of cognitive restructuring.