A group for the adult daughters of mentally ill mothers: looking backwards and forwards

Quality of life of adult daughters of women with schizophrenia: Associations with psychological resource losses and gains

OBJECTIVE

This study examined the relationship between perceived losses and gains of psychological resources and quality of life of adult daughters of women with schizophrenia.

METHOD

Thirty one adult daughters of mothers with schizophrenia (age range 30 to 50years) and thirty women of similar socio-demographic characteristics whose mothers were mentally healthy (the control group) participated in this study.

RESULTS

(a) Resource loss was higher and resource gains were lower among daughters of women with schizophrenia, compared to the control group; (b) despite resource gains total score of quality of life was significantly lower among daughters of mothers with schizophrenia compared to the controls; (c) daughters of mothers with schizophrenia had lower levels of family functioning, a higher level of negative emotions and a lower level of positive emotions; (d) resource gains moderated the negative relationship between resource loss and quality of life; (e) the most significant predictor of quality of life was the group (i.e. daughters of women with schizophrenia compared with controls); (f) quality of life was more strongly associated with resource loss than with resource gain.

DISCUSSION

The findings of this research underscore the importance of raising awareness of caregivers and healthcare authorities to the needs of the unique population of daughters of women diagnosed with schizophrenia for support and even treatment.

Self-expressed strengths and resources of children of parents with a mental illness: A systematic review

The aim of the present study was to explore the strengths children reported to have acquired while coping with their parents illness, and the external factors these children indicated had facilitated their coping process. A systematic literature search was conducted of peer-reviewed papers that focused on self-reported experiences of children with parents who had mental illness, and revealed their strengths and resources. The search included the following databases: MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and CINAHL. Results were filtered according to whether search terms appeared in the title or abstract. Fifty-seven full-text papers were reviewed; 26 of them met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. The statements were analysed using content analysis. The search identified 160 relevant statements, 38 (24%) of which could be described as self-reported strengths, and 122 (76%) as self-reported resources. According to these statements, the children described themselves as more mature, independent, and empathic than their peers who did not have a parent with a mental illness, and as having acquired several abilities. The statements about resources indicated that the children regarded social support, information, and particularly the support of mental health-care professionals as helpful when living with a parent with a mental illness. Recommendations for nursing actions to support children's ability to cope with their parents' illness are outlined.

Five women’s recollections and reflections on being raised by a mother with psychosis

This qualitative research project explored the recollections and reflections of women who were raised by mothers suffering with psychosis. Existing research has documented the mostly negative effects of maternal psychopathology on offspring; they are exposed to both the genetic and environmental effects of such illness. Very few qualitative studies exist in this research area. The mother–daughter perspective was taken to explore the ways that daughters felt maternal psychosis might have affected this primary relationship. Five participants comprised the purposive, snowball sample. The semi-structured interview method was used for data collection. The data was analysed using thematic content analysis. Nine themes and two sub-themes emerged from the interview data; these were (1) resilience and survival (with two sub-themes: (1.1) extreme self-sufficiency and (1.2) low self-esteem and the need for approval); (2) memories of maternal psychotic episodes; (3) mother–daughter bond; (4) importance of father; (5) sibling sounding boards and responsibilities; (6) silent family storms; (7) significant others; (8) stigma, shame, and secrecy; and (9) maternal psychosis, motherhood, and feminine identity. All participants believe that maternal psychosis had affected them profoundly, both in childhood and adulthood. They felt that it had influenced their personality development in various ways, including the formation of feminine identity.

Growing Up with a Parent having Schizophrenia: Experiences and Resilience in the Offsprings

BACKGROUND

Parental mental illness has been found to have an impact on offsprings in their emotional, social, and behavioral aspects of life.

AIMS

To examine the experiences of offsprings of a parent having schizophrenia and to study their resilience.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A sample of 45 adults with one parent diagnosed with schizophrenia was selected using purposive sampling. Subjects were assessed using socio-demographic data sheet, semi-structured interview schedule, and Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale.

RESULTS

The experiences perceived by them as different from children of healthy parents included negative experiences in social (49%) and emotional aspects (40%), lack of support from the parent who is ill (40%), and burden (66%) in various areas. Majority of the offsprings were satisfied with the parenting received (70%). About 60% of them reported medium resilience, and 24% and 15% reported high and low resilience, respectively. Majority of those with medium and high resilience had supportive relationship with other family members. Social support was the most frequently reported factor that helped them to cope with difficulties.

CONCLUSIONS

Growing up with a parent having mental illness can have negative impact on offsprings. However, it can also have positive effects in terms of developing resilience in the presence of good support system.

Emerging adults' perspectives on their relationships with mothers with mental illness: implications for caregiving

Guided by a life course perspective, the current study examined whether emerging adults with and without mothers with affective disorders viewed their relationships with their mothers differently, and whether aspects of the emerging adult-mother relationship were associated with reports of caregiving for mothers. Reports from emerging adults with mothers with affective disorders (n = 46) were compared to reports from emerging adults with mothers without mental illness (n = 64). Results indicated that emerging adults with mothers with affective disorders reported significantly lower levels of affection, felt obligation, reciprocity, and future caregiving intentions, and significantly higher levels of role reversal in their relationships with their mothers. Reported current caregiving levels did not differ between emerging adults with and without mothers with affective disorders. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses generally indicated higher levels of felt obligation were associated with higher levels of caregiving, regardless of maternal mental health status. Results and future research directions are discussed from a life course perspective.

A qualitative meta-synthesis of adult children of parents with a mental illness

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

This article presents a qualitative meta-synthesis that explores the experiences of adult children of parents with a mental illness.

BACKGROUND

There has been growing interest in the experiences of children whose parents have mental illness. However, little literature explores the experiences of adult children.

DESIGN

Qualitative meta-synthesis.

METHOD

A review of English language literature search engines was undertaken and identified 905 relevant articles. Articles were excluded if they used quantitative methodology, had other methodological issues or had a focus on parental drug/alcohol issues. Twelve articles were identified as using qualitative or mixed methods studies, which were reviewed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (Public Health Resource Unit 2006). Following this, seven studies were included in the meta-synthesis. The main findings and themes identified by the original study authors were extracted from the results and discussions sections and further categorised into four main themes using content analysis methods.

RESULTS

There were 26 themes identified by the meta-synthesis, which were collated into four wider categories and concepts. Issues related to family relationships, external familial relationship changes, the adult child's emotional reflections and illness-related concepts were identified.

CONCLUSION

There is a paucity of qualitative research that considers adult children's experiences of parental mental illness. In the available studies, issues related to family relationships, external familial wider relationship changes, the adult child's emotional reflections and illness-related concepts were identified as being of concern to adults who experienced parental mental illness during childhood.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

There is a need for all health and social care services to be aware of the experiences/needs of adult children who have experienced parental mental illness. Adult children of parents with mental illnesses should be provided with opportunities to discuss their stories to validate their experiences.

Self-concept in adult children of schizophrenic parents: an exploratory study

BACKGROUND

Much of the work on children of schizophrenic parents has primarily focused on the risk of developing various kinds of psychiatric disorders, behavioural problems and cognitive vulnerability factors. There has been inadequate attention given to children without a clinical diagnosis and particularly the adult offspring of schizophrenic parents. It would be worthwhile to study the wellness or otherwise of these children, especially in terms of the self-concept of these individuals.

AIM

To study the impact of parental mental illness on the self-concept of adult children.

METHOD

Thirty subjects who had one parent diagnosed as suffering from schizophrenia formed the study group, and 30 subjects, matched on age and gender with the study group, formed the control group. Subjects were assessed using a socio-demographic and clinical data sheet and a self-concept scale.

RESULTS

The results showed that the study group had significantly poorer self-concept compared to the control group. The current clinical status of the parents had an impact on the family self-esteem of the children. Subjects who were above 10 years of age at the onset of the parental mental illness had a poorer self-concept, as compared to those who were below 10 years at the onset of illness in their parents.

CONCLUSIONS

The results provide evidence for poor self-concept in adult children of schizophrenic parents compared to children of normal parents.

Mothers with serious mental illness

Mental health services have generally ignored the parenting needs of women with serious mental illness. This chapter identifies the parenting risks and strengths that these women display, as well as the opportunities available to psychologists to play a key role in improving mother and child outcomes.