A parent’s perspective of the bidirectional impact of mental illness in families (original) (raw)
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Clinical Nursing Studies, 2018
Objective: Investigations into the influence of mental illness in families concentrates on how a parent’s mental illness has an effect on their child, but we now know over two thirds of children with a mental health issue also have a parent with a mental illness. This study examines experiences of these children.Methods: Thirty-eight children were interviewed, including two sibling groups. Interview transcripts were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis with a number of themes identified.Results: It was clear from children’s accounts that family life presents some unique challenges because of co-existing mental illness. These included social challenges; school issues; and family interactions. Children also postulated ideas on the support that they considered helpful for comparable children and families. The latter included coping strategies, experiences of professionals and support that they would have liked.Conclusions: The voices of these children indicate that i...
The Positive Effects of Parents’ Mental Illness on Their Children: A Qualitative Study
Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science, 2014
Objective: The main objective of this research is to explore the positive consequences of parents' mental illness on their children. Material & methods: This study was a part of a more comprehensive study performed based on grounded theory. In this work semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 participants selected by purposeful and theoretical sampling approach. Data were analyzed using constant comparative analysis suggested by Straus and Corbin (1988) method. Results: Despite negative effects of the illness, the children have been perceived positive effects from their parents' illness. These findings categorized in two category of "independence" and "considering the others needs". Conclusion: Application of these findings in care plan of patients and families, particularly their children, can offer more efficient coping with mental illness.
“We Are More than Our Parents’ Mental Illness”: Narratives from Adult Children
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Although research on children of parents with mental illness is growing, few researchers have examined the long-term impact of parental mental illness on adult children. This study explored the potential impact growing up with a parent with a mental illness on the parenting role assumed by adult children. The qualitative study included ten participants, who were individually interviewed using a semi-structured interview schedule. Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) along with member checks were utilised to derive themes from participants’ narratives. Three main themes were identified, including: ‘this is me’, ‘a whole new world’, and ‘because of you’. ‘This is me’ consisted of narratives highlighting how adult children intentionally went about parenting in ways different from their parents, and ‘a whole new world’ captured the salient identity that parenthood served for adult children. The third theme, ‘because of you’ highlighted the challenges adult children faced in th...
Coping With the Dual Demands of Severe Mental Illness and Parenting: The Parents' Perspective
Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Social Services, 2003
The experience of parenthood by individuals with severe mental illness has not been well studied. Research on mentally ill parents has focused on their pathology and the potential risk for their children without considering the parents' perspective. This qualitative study used interviews to explore how these parents coped with the dual demands of parenthood and their illness.
2017
The current exploratory study aimed to understand the experience of parents whose children have severe and persistent mental illness. It was hypothesized that themes developed from parents' responses to interview questions would indicate the presence of a) grief, b) trauma, c) subjective burden, and d) objective burden. Participants were 13 parents, comprised of conveniently sampled biological parents and legal guardians. Each parent was independently interviewed using a semi-structured protocol. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed by the principal investigator. Transcripts were analyzed using consensual qualitative analysis. An in-depth analysis of each transcript and cross analysis of transcripts yielded seven domains: Impacts; Evolving Behaviors, Feelings, and Attitudes; Relationships; Treatment Experiences; Understanding; Supports; and Barriers. Results indicated the presence of grief, trauma, subjective burden, and objective burden for all participants and therefore supported the hypothesis. This study suggests that parents of adolescents with severe and persistent mental illness may benefit from inclusion in their children's treatment planning and decision making as well as be offered support by way of individual and family therapy, community or online support groups, and have their reactions validated and normalized by mental health providers. Furthermore, future research should continue to explore the phenomenological x experience of parents of children and adolescents with severe mental illness in addition to quantitatively measuring their grief, trauma, and burden symptoms.
Parenting: Experiences and feelings of parents with a mental illness
Journal of Mental Health, 1999
Most research in the area of parenting has focused on psychopathology in the child or the child±parent relationship. Little qualitative research has been carried out in the area of the experiences and feelings of parents with a m ental illness. The aim of the present study was to explore the parents' experiences and feelings concerning their role as parents and how the m ental illness has impacted on that role. It also aimed to examine their perceptions of the m ental health service and areas in need of improvem ent. A qualitative research design, consisting of two focus groups and four individual interviews, were used. A num ber of themes were identified and from these possible future directions for m ental health services and comm unity support services were postulated.
A Narrative Inquiry into the Experiences of Adult Children of Parents with Serious Mental Illness
2018
Children of parents with mental illness (COPMI) are a substantial, yet until quite recently, marginalised group within society. Whilst extensive empirical research has been conducted into their risk for adverse psychosocial outcomes as well as potential for resilience, there has been relatively little focus on their personal experiences and understandings of such experiences. In recent years, national and international mental health service policies and guidelines for service provision have been developed to address the specific needs of families and children where parents have mental illness, including serious mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. These policies and related service provision guidelines have appropriately focused health professionals' attention on the needs and importance of prevention and early intervention for COPMI. There has not, however, been an associated focus on the needs and experiences of adult children of parents with mental ill...