Lived experiences of family members caring for a relative with mental illness
Background: Mental illness may cause a variety of psychosocial problems, such as decreased quality of life for the affected individual’s family members and an increased social distance for the individual and family members caring for a relative with mental illness. Purpose: To gain an understanding...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2022-01-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214139122000154 |
| _version_ | 1811258857227288576 |
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| author | Mihloti Eunice Shimange Marie Poggenpoel Chris P.H. Myburgh Nompumelelo Ntshingila |
| author_facet | Mihloti Eunice Shimange Marie Poggenpoel Chris P.H. Myburgh Nompumelelo Ntshingila |
| author_sort | Mihloti Eunice Shimange |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Mental illness may cause a variety of psychosocial problems, such as decreased quality of life for the affected individual’s family members and an increased social distance for the individual and family members caring for a relative with mental illness. Purpose: To gain an understanding of the lived experiences of family members caring for a relative with mental illness in Giyani, Limpopo province. Design and Methods: A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual research design was utilised. Data were collected through in-depth individual interviews with eight participants, observations, and field notes. Data were analysed utilising Tesch’s open-coding method, and an independent coder assisted in the analysis process. Results: The results revealed that family members caring for a relative with mental illness were alert about safety aspects related to their relative with mental illness. Participants experienced that their relative was not mentally stable, as evidenced by erratic behaviour. They also experienced challenges in caring for a relative with mental illness and engaged coping strategies in caring for a relative with mental illness. Conclusion: Based on the findings from this study, it was recommended that support interventions for these families by providing mental health education, strengthening the families’ existing coping strategies, and building their resilience. The implications for practice for psychiatric nurses and stakeholders in social services were highlighted in supporting the families of relatives with mental illness. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T18:20:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-92a8f932bafd43dbb27cde2dc33ffdb4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2214-1391 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T18:20:49Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-92a8f932bafd43dbb27cde2dc33ffdb42022-12-22T03:21:27ZengElsevierInternational Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences2214-13912022-01-0116100408Lived experiences of family members caring for a relative with mental illnessMihloti Eunice Shimange0Marie Poggenpoel1Chris P.H. Myburgh2Nompumelelo Ntshingila3University of Johannesburg, South AfricaUniversity of Johannesburg, South AfricaUniversity of Johannesburg, South AfricaCorresponding author at: P.O. Box 524, Auckland Park 2006.; University of Johannesburg, South AfricaBackground: Mental illness may cause a variety of psychosocial problems, such as decreased quality of life for the affected individual’s family members and an increased social distance for the individual and family members caring for a relative with mental illness. Purpose: To gain an understanding of the lived experiences of family members caring for a relative with mental illness in Giyani, Limpopo province. Design and Methods: A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual research design was utilised. Data were collected through in-depth individual interviews with eight participants, observations, and field notes. Data were analysed utilising Tesch’s open-coding method, and an independent coder assisted in the analysis process. Results: The results revealed that family members caring for a relative with mental illness were alert about safety aspects related to their relative with mental illness. Participants experienced that their relative was not mentally stable, as evidenced by erratic behaviour. They also experienced challenges in caring for a relative with mental illness and engaged coping strategies in caring for a relative with mental illness. Conclusion: Based on the findings from this study, it was recommended that support interventions for these families by providing mental health education, strengthening the families’ existing coping strategies, and building their resilience. The implications for practice for psychiatric nurses and stakeholders in social services were highlighted in supporting the families of relatives with mental illness.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214139122000154 |
| spellingShingle | Mihloti Eunice Shimange Marie Poggenpoel Chris P.H. Myburgh Nompumelelo Ntshingila Lived experiences of family members caring for a relative with mental illness International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences |
| title | Lived experiences of family members caring for a relative with mental illness |
| title_full | Lived experiences of family members caring for a relative with mental illness |
| title_fullStr | Lived experiences of family members caring for a relative with mental illness |
| title_full_unstemmed | Lived experiences of family members caring for a relative with mental illness |
| title_short | Lived experiences of family members caring for a relative with mental illness |
| title_sort | lived experiences of family members caring for a relative with mental illness |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214139122000154 |
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