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. 2026 Jan 22;26:171. doi: 10.1186/s12888-025-07680-9

Table 3.

Interpersonal NLE involving partners or family – the WHAT, WHEN and WHO

Type of NLE N (%)
1. Relationship problems with partners* 84 (56.0%)
WHAT WERE THE PROBLEMS?$ 84 (56.0%)
Events
Conflict 66 (78.6%)
Suspicions, discoveries and/or accusations of infidelity in the relationship 31 (36.9%)
Threat to the relationship 27 (32.1%)
Violence by partner 25 (29.8%)
Unpleasant discoveries 10 (11.9%)
Bullying by partner 07 (08.3%)
Rejection 01 (01.2%)
Thwarted elopement 01 (01.2%)
Median number of events (range) 2 (0-4)
Episodes
Unmet needs or conflicting expectations in the relationship 62 (73.8%)
Family interference 16 (19.0%)
Jealous partner 14 (16.7%)
Addiction of partner 08 (09.5%)
Infidelity of partner 07 (08.3%)
Restricted freedom by partner 06 (07.1%)
Avoidance by partner 04 (04.8%)
Median number of episodes (range) 1 (0-5)
WHEN DID THEY OCCUR?
For events,
Days since last event 82 (66.7%)
Over 31 days 15 (18.3%)
30 days or lesser 23 (28.0%)
Last 48 hours 44 (53.7%)
Mean days since last event 29.49 days
Mean days since last event 1 (day prior)
Single or repeated event 82 (66.7%)
Single (one or more events on a given day) 10 (12.2%)
Repeated (events repeat over time) 72 (87.8%)
For episodes, 69 (67.6%)
Mean duration of episodes (in days) 919
WHO DID THEY INVOLVE?$ 84 (56.0%)
Spouse 44 (52.4%)
Significant other 37 (44.0%)
Both 03 (03.6%)
2. NLE relationship problems with family* 90 (60.0%)
WHAT WERE THE PROBLEMS? $ 90 (60.0%)
Events
Conflict 76 (84.4%)
Violence by family 32 (35.6%)
Bullying by family 24 (26.7%)
Unpleasant discoveries 14 (15.6%)
Betrayal 01 (01.1%)
Sexual harassment 01 (01.1%)
Median number of events 2 (0-5)
Episodes
Unmet needs or conflicting expectations in the relationship 57 (63.3%)
Estrangement 18 (20.0%)
Restricted freedom by family 14 (15.6%)
Distrust 11 (12.2%)
Addiction of family 07 (07.8%)
Avoidance by family 05 (05.6%)
Disputes over property 03 (03.3%)
Troublesome child 01 (01.1%)
Unspecified issue 01 (01.1%)
Median number of episodes 1 (0-4)
WHEN DID THEY OCCUR?
For events,
Days since last event 84 (60.4%)
Over 31 days 16 (19.0%)
30 days or lesser 16 (19.0%)
Last 48 hours 52 (61.9%)
Mean days since last event 29.2
Median days since last event 0 (same day)
Single or repeated event 85 (59.9%)
Single (one or more events on a given day) 16 (18.8%)
Repeated (events repeat over time) 69 (81.2%)
For episodes, 74 (56.9%)
Mean duration of episodes (in days) 1153
WHO WAS INVOLVED?$ 90 (60.0%)
Parent 59 (65.6%)
Sibling 25 (27.8%)
In-laws or other family by marriage 26 (28.9%)
Other (aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, etc) 21 (23.3%)
3. Parental conflict*& 32 (21.3%)
WHAT WERE THE PROBLEMS?$ 32 (21.3%)
Addictions of the father 17 (53.1%)
Unmet needs or conflicting expectations in the relationship 09 (28.1%)
Quarrels over finances 09 (28.1%)
Violence by father 06 (18.8%)
Parenting differences 03 (09.4%)
Other 03 (09.4%)
WHEN DID THEY OCCUR? 32 (21.3%)
Mean duration of episodes (in days) 3911

&This was conceptualised as an episode and hence there is no ‘last time’ or ‘frequency’

$A narrative/participant can be coded for more than code, so the proportions will not add up to 100