J Korean Acad Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs.  2018 Jun;27(2):146-158. 10.12934/jkpmhn.2018.27.2.146.

Lived Experience of Primary Caregivers of People with Mental Disability

• Choi EJ
• Cho HM

• KMID: 2415248
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12934/jkpmhn.2018.27.2.146

Abstract

PURPOSE
This phenomenological study was done to explore in-depth understanding of the lived experience of primary caregivers of people with mental illness.
METHODS
Participants were 7 primary caregivers and data were collected from November 2017 to February 2018. Giorgi's phenomenological method was used in this study. The caregiving experiences were categorized into separate types of situational structures in terms of specific and general descriptions.
RESULTS
Six clusters and fourteen sub-clusters were identified. The 6 clusters were found to be "˜Embarrassing encounter with a disease', "˜Sustained regret and self-defeating', "˜Family life of constant oppression', "˜Confinement of a mental illness', "˜Nagging label of mental illness', and "˜Recognizing the disease as a fate and taking courage'.
CONCLUSION
The study findings emphasize the importance of both local and national support and the provision of information designed for primary caregivers of people with mental disability. Psychiatric nurses should understand and consider the growing number of increasing social prejudices, stigma, and caregiver burden so as to improve interpersonal relationships brought about by mental illness.

Keyword

Mentally disabled persons; Qualitative research; Caregivers

MeSH Terms

Caregivers*
Humans
Mentally Disabled Persons
Methods
Prejudice
Qualitative Research

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