Financial Stress, Shame, and Dyadic Coping Among Highly Distressed Couples in Therapy: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

Despite the detrimental impact financial stress has on mental health and relationships, couples experiencing it remain an under-researched group, especially in a therapy setting. In this study, we conducted interviews with 10 participants from five couples who struggled financially during residential couple treatment in Norway. The empirical material was analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) to examine couples' experiences and subjective meaning-making. The findings revealed: (a) a sense of existential threat, (b) dyadic coping strategies with advantages and costs, (c) ways in which the community of helpers both supported and hindered the families. The core finding was a pervasive sense of shame that affected how the participants perceived themselves, their relationships, and their place in society. We discuss how shame and dyadic coping can influence both the couples' relationships and their finances, and how systemic and couple therapists can contribute by highlighting positive coping strategies and directly addressing financial shame.