Exploring the Connection Between Functional Social Support, Marital Status, and Memory from the Perspective of Community-Dwelling Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A Qualitative Study

Abstract Background and Objective We undertook a qualitative descriptive study to explore participants’ perceptions of whether marital status shapes how functional social support (FSS) relates to memory. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 community-dwelling middle-aged and older people representing various marital status categories. Each interview was audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and thematically analyzed. Findings Participants did not perceive marital status to shape the FSS–memory relationship. Three themes emerged to explain this view: learning to cope – participants used alternatives besides a spouse to deal with memory challenges; context matters – factors such as marital satisfaction must be considered; and doing more harm than good – some spouses may provide excessive support, reducing participants’ autonomy to stimulate their own cognitive processes. Discussion These themes highlight that marital relationships are complex and that contextual factors such as marital quality and support adequacy should be considered to provide a comprehensive understanding of how social and marital dynamics shape cognitive trajectories in aging populations.