Parenting experiences of Chinese mothers living with a mental illness
Abstract Background Although the experiences of mothers with mental illness are well researched in Western countries, little is known about the experiences of Chinese mothers. This study aims to explore the experiences of family life and parenting of Chinese mothers, in the context of their mental i...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2021-11-01
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| Series: | BMC Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-021-03581-9 |
| _version_ | 1819194809210896384 |
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| author | Lingling Chen Kitty Vivekananda Lili Guan Andrea Reupert |
| author_facet | Lingling Chen Kitty Vivekananda Lili Guan Andrea Reupert |
| author_sort | Lingling Chen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Although the experiences of mothers with mental illness are well researched in Western countries, little is known about the experiences of Chinese mothers. This study aims to explore the experiences of family life and parenting of Chinese mothers, in the context of their mental illness. Methods Fourteen Chinese mothers with mental illness undertook in-depth, semi-structured interviews. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was employed to guide the data analysis. Results Seven themes were identified: motherhood as a central identity, the stigma associated with being a mother with mental illness, participants’ perceptions about the impact of mental illness on parenting and their children, experiences of talking to children about mental illness, how having children impacts mothers’ illness and recovery, and support obtained and needed. Similar to Western mothers, Chinese mothers experienced stigma and fluctuating mental illness symptoms which impacted on parenting. Unlike mothers based in Western countries, the mothers interviewed in this study highlighted complicated co-caring relationships with parents-in-law and did not raise child custody concerns. Conclusions Mental health professionals need to have the skills to identify and recognize the mothering role of their clients. Culturally sensitive interventions are required to assist Chinese families where mothers have a mental illness. Future research is required to investigate family experiences of parental mental illness from the perspectives of children, partners, and mental health professionals. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-23T02:02:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e4012e46388144c6980daf2288c6cd4a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-244X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-23T02:02:46Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-e4012e46388144c6980daf2288c6cd4a2022-12-21T18:03:57ZengBMCBMC Psychiatry1471-244X2021-11-0121111110.1186/s12888-021-03581-9Parenting experiences of Chinese mothers living with a mental illnessLingling Chen0Kitty Vivekananda1Lili Guan2Andrea Reupert3Faculty of Education, Monash UniversityFaculty of Education, Monash UniversityPeking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Centre for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital)Faculty of Education, Monash UniversityAbstract Background Although the experiences of mothers with mental illness are well researched in Western countries, little is known about the experiences of Chinese mothers. This study aims to explore the experiences of family life and parenting of Chinese mothers, in the context of their mental illness. Methods Fourteen Chinese mothers with mental illness undertook in-depth, semi-structured interviews. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was employed to guide the data analysis. Results Seven themes were identified: motherhood as a central identity, the stigma associated with being a mother with mental illness, participants’ perceptions about the impact of mental illness on parenting and their children, experiences of talking to children about mental illness, how having children impacts mothers’ illness and recovery, and support obtained and needed. Similar to Western mothers, Chinese mothers experienced stigma and fluctuating mental illness symptoms which impacted on parenting. Unlike mothers based in Western countries, the mothers interviewed in this study highlighted complicated co-caring relationships with parents-in-law and did not raise child custody concerns. Conclusions Mental health professionals need to have the skills to identify and recognize the mothering role of their clients. Culturally sensitive interventions are required to assist Chinese families where mothers have a mental illness. Future research is required to investigate family experiences of parental mental illness from the perspectives of children, partners, and mental health professionals.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-021-03581-9Chinese mothersMental illnessParentingQualitativeIPA |
| spellingShingle | Lingling Chen Kitty Vivekananda Lili Guan Andrea Reupert Parenting experiences of Chinese mothers living with a mental illness BMC Psychiatry Chinese mothers Mental illness Parenting Qualitative IPA |
| title | Parenting experiences of Chinese mothers living with a mental illness |
| title_full | Parenting experiences of Chinese mothers living with a mental illness |
| title_fullStr | Parenting experiences of Chinese mothers living with a mental illness |
| title_full_unstemmed | Parenting experiences of Chinese mothers living with a mental illness |
| title_short | Parenting experiences of Chinese mothers living with a mental illness |
| title_sort | parenting experiences of chinese mothers living with a mental illness |
| topic | Chinese mothers Mental illness Parenting Qualitative IPA |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-021-03581-9 |
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