Intermarried couples, mental health and psychosocial well-being: Negotiating mixedness in the Danish context of ‘homogeneity’

Abstract

Intermarried couples in Denmark face a range of psychosocial challenges in the context of dominant discourses of homogeneity coexisting with ethnic diversity. This article deals with the couples’ managing of everyday life, mental health, well-being and implications for health promotion and counselling. The participants in this qualitative study (n = 10) are persons in mixed relationships where one partner is from South Asia and the other a native Dane, forming visibly ethnically different households [Phoenix, A. (2011). Psychosocial intersections: Contextualising the accounts of adults who grew up in visibly ethnically different households. In Lutz, V., & L. Supik (Eds.), Framing intersectionality: Debates on a multi-faceted concept in gender studies. Surrey: Ashgate]. The analysis indicates that internal, personal and family aspects, such as realistic plans, mixing everyday practices and focussing on the fun part, are in interplay with external aspects such as formal and informal acceptance of the intermarriage in society, dominant gender roles, recognition and inclusion for the mixed couples. Recognition of the significance of these aspects and practices is important for promoting positive mental health and well-being over the life course.

Keywords:

• intermarriage
• societal homogeneity
• intersectionality
• life course perspective
• inclusive counselling practice

Acknowledgements

The authors thank their colleagues, Associate Professor Thomas Gitz Johansen for his valuable comments and PhD scholar Spencer Hazel for linguistic polishing of this article.