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Family coping with mental illness: a comparative study
1University of Western Ontario, School of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario, Canada.
Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing
|March 17, 1999
Summary
Family caregivers undergo transformation processes when relatives have mental illness. These processes involve pattern appraisal and mutual patterning, grounded in Newman's theory of health as expanding consciousness.
Area of Science:
- Nursing
- Psychology
- Sociology
Background:
- Mental illness significantly impacts family dynamics and caregiver well-being.
- Understanding the subjective experiences of family caregivers is crucial for developing effective support interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the transformation processes experienced by family caregivers of individuals with mental illness.
- To examine the application of Newman's theory of health as expanding consciousness in understanding caregiver adaptation.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative research design involving two studies conducted in Canada and Japan.
- Focus on family caregivers' subjective experiences and their appraisal and patterning processes.
Main Results:
- Caregivers engage in a unitary process of pattern appraisal and deliberate mutual patterning.
- These transformation processes are framed within the unitary transformative paradigm of Newman's theory.
Conclusions:
- Newman's theory provides a valuable framework for understanding the complex adaptation and growth of family caregivers.
- The findings highlight the importance of recognizing and supporting the transformative journey of family caregivers facing mental illness.