Abstract
No previous research seems to have examined why able-bodied women might choose to marry men with a significant, permanent physical impairment. This exploratory study employed a grounded theory methodology to examine the courtship experiences of 8 able-bodied women who made postinjury marital commitments to men with a spinal cord injury (SCI). A tentative model of relationship development integrated salient factors which emerged from the data. Contrary to what one might expect to find based on maladaptive motivations attributed to nondisabled mates by some authors, the present findings suggest a substantial overlap with existing models of courtship. There were evident, though, significant individual factors and external social forces influencing relationship development in the context of disability. Participants described their mates as positively adjusted to their disability and as demonstrating autonomous attitudes which, along with personality variables, were considered important elements of attraction. Participants revealed: an openness to a relationship with a partner with SCI; prior personal experience with disability; flexibility regarding role performance; acceptance of disability and need for assistance; an attitude aimed at fostering their partner's independence; and, resiliency when faced with social disapproval.
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