Relational Achievement: Clinical Principles for Fostering Mental Health in Voluntarily and Involuntarily Childless Marriages

This qualitative study explores relational principles sustaining mental health among 25 childless Indonesian couples (n = 50). Using thematic analysis of dyadic narratives, three mechanisms were identified: shared meaning-making, dyadic emotion regulation, and strategic boundary management. Findings reveal temporal shifts: younger couples (5–10 years) actively negotiate stigma, while senior couples (>10 years) achieve stable identity integration. These results challenge deficit-based perspectives, offering an affirmative-relational framework for couple therapy. Practitioners should emphasize shared meaning and relational autonomy to foster resilience in pronatalist contexts.