Lived experiences of adults who have a relative with schizophrenia

Abstract

Background: Adult relatives of persons with schizophrenia are ones who lived or still live with the sick person. The duties of caring for someone with schizophrenia, along with the pressures of raising a family, can have a negative impact on carers, in case the relative is the primary caregiver, leading to stress and burnout. Despite this, many Healthcare Professionals continue to focus on the "ill" person and ignore caregiver difficulties, despite the obvious need to understand and support them. There is a dearth in the literature regarding the lived experiences of the relatives of people with schizophrenia. Aim: This study explores the lived experiences of adults who have a relative with schizophrenia to acquire a richer and a better understanding on the impact of caregiving, with reference to their coping mechanisms. Design: A qualitative approach following the principles of Interpretative phenomenological Analysis (IPA) of Smith et al (2009). Setting: The study was conducted online via zoom (n=5), and within a clinic in Mount Carmel Hospital (n=1). Participants: These included six individuals who live or had live with a relative with schizophrenia. Methodology: Participants were recruited using purposeful sampling. Semi-structured interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data analysis was carried out using IPA. Results: Three superordinate themes emerged from the analysis. "Psycho-social impact," "coping strategies," and "identity". Conclusion: This study provided a deeper understanding about the experience of adults who have a relative with schizophrenia. More information was acquired about the obstacles and struggles that this long-suffering population faces. Nonetheless, it has been demonstrated that, while relatives of people with schizophrenia face difficulties, many of them live on perseverance, demonstrating that in life, it is possible to be faced with thorns but choose to grow roses.