Relationship maintenance strategies for romantic couples in adulthood emerge with a positive history of COVID-19

This study was conducted to determine strategies for maintaining a relationship among couples with a positive history of Covid-19 who are in a romantic relationship. For the purposes of the research, the phenomenological design, one of the qualitative research methods, was used. The research study group consisted of 16 people determined by the criterion that at least one of the couples who had a romantic relationship had a positive history of Covid-19 using the criterion and maximum sampling methods, which are deliberate sampling methods. The research data was collected through face-to-face interviews by using the semi-structured interview technique. The "Strategies for maintaining romantic relationships during the COVID-19 epidemic period" form which has been developed by the researcher was used to collect the data. The data which was obtained as a result of the interviews were subjected to a content analysis with the Maxqda program and the themes and codes related to the research phenomenon were determined. As a result of the content analysis, relational difficulties experienced by couples in adulthood in the pre-epidemic period include inability to communicate, indifference and jealousy; While one of the partners tested positive for Covid-19, it turned out that there was a fear of failing and losing responsibilities. On the other hand, the outcomes related to relationship maintenance strategies of romantic couples were love, respect, and time spent together in the pre-epidemic period; daydreaming, surprise, online communication, creating online common spaces and understanding during the pandemic; patience, loyalty, talking about memories, desire, support and care, fear of death when either of the partners is covid-19 positive; when one of the partners tested negative for covid-19, it was determined as talking about the future of trust and the relationship. The research results were interpreted in the light of relevant theoretical information and literature and suggestions were made.