The experiences of Mothers caring for adults affected by schizophrenia in Hebron district – Palestine: A descriptive phenomenological study
Date
2017-09-18
Authors
دعيس, مالك ربحي حسين
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
An-Najah National University
Abstract
Introduction: Schizophrenia is a mental illness which cause severe disability and considered as major cause of suffering for clients affected with it. Diagnosis with Schizophrenia affects functioning within the family and caregivers, this manly resulted because the caregivers have to take their role in caring.
Aim: This study aimed at understanding the experience and management’s practices that used by mothers of client affected by schizophrenia include difficulties and barrier that mother of face, and investigate both the positive and negative experiences of care giving, mother coping strategies, supportive factors, attitudes and perceptions Design :The study used a qualitative descriptive phenomenological method.
Data collection: Face to face, in-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants – 11 mothers of client affected with schizophrenia included.
The interview guide allowed mothers to express their experiences with caregiving of client affected with schizophrenia.
Sample: Purposive sampling was used
The setting of data collection was Hebron Community Mental Health Center. In Hebron district – West Bank- Palestine.
Data Analysis: The data was analyzed by using Giorgi’s phenomenological psychology method (1985).
The result: From the experiences narrated by the mothers, 4 main themes and 18 sub themes emerged from the analysis of the data. The data obtained from mothers were transcribed verbatim. Which include Coping with new situation, Knowledge deficit, Emotional and social experience and Ongoing Struggle
Conclusion:
Each mother had unique experiences of their journey of caring and living, most of mothers experienced varies of difficulties and burden while caring for their client affected with schizophrenia include, psychological, Emotional, social and economic factors.
Most of mothers experienced lack of knowledge and information regarding schizophrenia and how to manage or deal with symptoms. Also early experiences with the illness include feeling of loss, sadness, crying. Mothers experienced many lifestyle change include being socially isolated due to they had to be always with their client who become dependent.
Mothers reported many needs to help them handle new situation, which included enough information and education, and counseling center, also they needed center for rehabilitation and entertainments activity for their clients supported with mental health professional’s.
In this study coping mechanisms of mothers explored, which they used to overcome challenges introduced by their client affected with schizophrenia. Mothers developed themselves with coping strategies to handle with challenges and new situation that they obligate to be with, lastly, some mothers also reported positive, character building experiences arising from their caring for their relative with schizophrenia, that they feeled satisfied when their client become better, and some mother’s become closer and give more love to their client.
Description
Keywords
Schizophrenia , Mother , Burden , Coping mechanism , Phenomenology