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Arslan G, Uzun K, Güven AZ, Gürsu O. Psychological flexibility, self-compassion, subjective well-being, and substance misuse in college students: a serial mediation model. J Ethn Subst Abuse 2024:1-22. [PMID: 38923909 DOI: 10.1080/15332640.2024.2366981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Substance misuse is a pressing public health concern, especially among emerging adults, with implications for psychological health and overall well-being. This cross-sectional study investigates the mediating roles of self-compassion and subjective well-being in the relationship between psychological flexibility and substance misuse among Turkish college students. The study included 445 emerging adults enrolled at a state university in Türkiye. University participants were recruited via convenience sampling using snowball methods. Data were collected using self-report scales. The sample was 69% female (n = 307) and 31% male (n = 138) and ranged in age from 18 to 26 years (M = 20.85, SD = 1.35). In the study, Pearson product-moment correlation analysis was conducted to examine the relationships between the variables and then the serial mediation model was tested. The findings have revealed that psychological flexibility significantly predicts substance misuse, subjective well-being, and self-compassion. Additionally, the study identifies self-compassion as a mediator in the relationship between psychological flexibility and subjective well-being. While self-compassion contributes significantly to well-being, it does not explain the impact of psychological flexibility on substance misuse. Furthermore, subjective well-being also appears to be a mediator in the relationship between psychological flexibility and substance misuse, emphasizing its potential significance in reducing the likelihood of resorting substance misuse. Overall, the study contributes to understanding the pivotal role of self-compassion and psychological flexibility in fostering well-being and preventing substance misuse in the college setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gökmen Arslan
- Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, Burdur, Türkiye
- University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | | | | | - Orhan Gürsu
- Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, Burdur, Türkiye
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Wallace D, Cooper NR, Sel A, Russo R. The social readjustment rating scale: Updated and modernised. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0295943. [PMID: 38109368 PMCID: PMC10727443 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0295943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The Social Readjustment Rating Scale, originally devised in 1967 by Holmes and Rahe, measures the impact of life events stress. At the time, the SRRS advanced its field of research by standardising the impact of stress with a set of independently derived weights called 'life change units' (LCUs) for 43 life events found to predict illness onset. The scale has been criticised for being outdated, e.g. "Mortgage over $10,000" and biased, e.g. "Wife begin or stop work". The aim of this cross-sectional survey study is to update and improve the SRRS whilst allowing backwards compatibility. We successfully updated the SRRS norms/LCUs using the ratings of 540 predominantly UK adults aged 18 to 84. Moreover, we also updated wording of 12 SRRS items and evaluated the impact of demographics, personal experience and loneliness. Using non-parametric frequentist and Bayesian statistics we found that the updated weights were higher but broadly consistent with those of the original study. Furthermore, changes to item wording did not affect raters' evaluations relative to the original thereby ensuring cross-comparability with the original SRRS. The raters were not unduly influenced by their personal experiences of events nor loneliness. The target sample was UK rather than US-based and was proportionately representative regarding age, sex and ethnicity. Moreover, the age range was broader than the original SRRS. In addition, we modernised item wording, added one optional extra item to the end of the scale to evaluate the readjustment to living alone and identified 3 potential new items proposed by raters. Backwards-compatibility is maintained.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise Wallace
- Department of Psychology and Centre for Brain Science, University of Essex, Colchester, Essex, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas R. Cooper
- Department of Psychology and Centre for Brain Science, University of Essex, Colchester, Essex, United Kingdom
| | - Alejandra Sel
- Department of Psychology and Centre for Brain Science, University of Essex, Colchester, Essex, United Kingdom
| | - Riccardo Russo
- Department of Psychology and Centre for Brain Science, University of Essex, Colchester, Essex, United Kingdom
- Department of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
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Muniandy M, Richdale AL, Lawson LP. Stress and well-being in autistic adults: Exploring the moderating role of coping. Autism Res 2023; 16:2220-2233. [PMID: 37698532 DOI: 10.1002/aur.3028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
The wider stress literature points to negative associations between stress and well-being. Similarly, the use of engagement coping strategies and disengagement coping strategies in the face of stress are related to improved and reduced well-being respectively. However, in the autistic population stress and coping research is limited to date, and the extent to which coping may moderate the relationship between stress and well-being is not known. Using data from an Australian online study, we explored the potential moderating (i.e. buffering or exacerbating) role of coping in the relationship between stress and well-being in a sample of autistic adults (N = 86). Our findings indicated that increased stress was associated with lower well-being. Further, moderation analyses showed that while both engagement coping (e.g. problem solving, positive appraisal) and disengagement coping (e.g., self-distraction, being in denial) strategies had significant positive and negative direct effects on well-being respectively; engagement coping also moderated the relationship between stress and well-being, buffering the impact of stress on well-being. Our results illustrate the different underlying mechanisms by which coping strategies may be associated with stress and well-being. They also highlight the potential protective role of engagement coping strategies, which can be incorporated into the promotion and maintenance of well-being in autistic adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Muniandy
- Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
- Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Amanda L Richdale
- Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
- Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Lauren P Lawson
- Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
- Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Department of Psychology, Counselling & Therapy, School of Psychology & Public Health, La Trobe University, Victoria, Australia
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Li J, Guo B, Lu M, Zhang W. Who are the convoys of the happiness of Chinese urban residents? Research on social relations and subjective well-being based on the convoy model. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1260754. [PMID: 37731884 PMCID: PMC10508955 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1260754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction While the rapid advancement of urbanization has driven the improvement of material living standards, it has also brought about rapid social changes and intensified competition. In this "involutive" environment characterized by highly competitive and strong pressure, urban residents tend to fall into a state of "mental exhaustion." Anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, and other mental illnesses have seriously threatened public health in Chinese cities. Support from social relations is crucial for enhancing residents' subjective well-being (SWB) and promoting their mental health, especially in China's highly contextualized collectivist culture. Methods According to the social structure of China's "difference sequence pattern," this paper constructs a theoretical framework of the relationship between social relations and SWB based on the convoy model and uses CGSS2018 data to verify the applicability of the theoretical framework. Results Kinship and friendship positively relate to SWB, and their interaction effect is significantly negative. There is no necessary correlation between neighborhood and SWB. The relationship between social relations and SWB of different age groups is heterogeneous. In addition, the moderating effects of relative income and social class are significantly negative. Discussion Kinship and friendship are Chinese urban residents' SWB convoys, and these two factors have an obvious substitution effect. The neighborhood has withdrawn from the convoy orbit of Chinese urban residents' SWB, which may be related to neighborhood indifference caused by China's housing system reform. From the life course perspective, the SWB convoys of young and middle-aged groups consist of kinship and friendship, while those of elderly people include kinship and neighborhood. In addition, for poor individuals living at the bottom of society, support from kinship is the most important source of social capital. These findings provide new insights into the relationship between social relations and the welfare of Chinese urban residents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianna Li
- Department of Management Science and Engineering, School of Management, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, China
| | - Bin Guo
- Department of Public Administration, School of Public Administration, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, China
| | - Mengyuan Lu
- Department of Management Science and Engineering, School of Management, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, China
| | - Wen Zhang
- Department of Management Science and Engineering, School of Management, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, China
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Schell V, De France K, Lin L, Hollenstein T. The role of avoidance in understanding emotional dysfunction associated with a fixed emotion mindset. PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2022.111945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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Marsack-Topolewski CN, Wang F. Dimensions of Caregiver Burden between Compound and Noncompound Caregivers of Adults with Autism. JOURNAL OF GERONTOLOGICAL SOCIAL WORK 2022; 65:402-420. [PMID: 34427543 DOI: 10.1080/01634372.2021.1969609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The expanding population of adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) will increase the number of aging parents who often assume the role of primary caregivers. Among aging caregivers of adults with ASD, compound caregiving (caring for additional family members) has become an increasingly common scenario. However, limited research has examined the burden of compound caregivers and little is known about the specific dimensions of burden among this population. The present study aims to compare differences between compound 1, compound 2, and noncompound caregivers on specific dimensions of caregiver burden associated with adult children with ASD. Using a cross-sectional design, data were collected from 320 caregivers aged 50 and older through a web-based survey. Four dimensions of burden (time dependence, developmental, emotional, and financial) were compared using MANOVA. Compound 1 and noncompound caregivers experienced lower levels of time dependence burden than compound 2 caregivers. In terms of developmental burden, the social life of compound 2 caregivers was more affected by caregiving compared to noncompound caregivers. The findings have practice implications for identifying caregivers' multiple responsibilities and the multi-faceted impact of caregiving, and prioritizing interventions for compound caregivers and its subpopulations to reduce their time and developmental burden.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina N Marsack-Topolewski
- School of Social Work Michigan Developmental Disabilities Institute, Affiliated Research Associate, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, Michigan, USA
| | - Fei Wang
- Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
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Wang K, Ding L, Yang C, Hao X, Wang C. Exploring the Relationship Between Psychiatric Traits and the Risk of Mouth Ulcers Using Bi-Directional Mendelian Randomization. Front Genet 2020; 11:608630. [PMID: 33424931 PMCID: PMC7793678 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2020.608630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Although the association between mouth ulcers and psychiatric traits has been reported by observational studies, their causal relationship remains unclear. Mendelian randomization (MR), powered by large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWAS), provides an opportunity to clarify the causality between mouth ulcers and psychiatric traits. Methods We collected summary statistics of mouth ulcers (sample size n = 461,106) and 10 psychiatric traits from the largest publicly available GWAS on Europeans, including anxiety disorder (n = 83,566), attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (n = 53,293), autism spectrum disorder (n = 46,350), bipolar disorder (n = 51,710), insomnia (n = 1,331,010), major depressive disorder (n = 480,359), mood instability (n = 363,705), neuroticism (n = 168,105), schizophrenia (n = 105,318), and subjective wellbeing (n = 388,538). We applied three two-sample bi-directional MR analysis methods, namely the Inverse Variance Weighted (IVW) method, the MR pleiotropy residual sum and outlier (MR-PRESSO) method, and the weighted median method, to assess the causal relationship between each psychiatric trait and mouth ulcers. Results We found significant effects of autism spectrum disorder, insomnia, major depressive disorder, and subjective wellbeing on mouth ulcers, with the corresponding odds ratio (OR) from the IVW method being 1.160 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.066–1.261, P = 5.39 × 10–4], 1.092 (1.062–1.122, P = 3.37 × 10–10), 1.234 (1.134–1.342, P = 1.03 × 10–6), and 0.703 (0.571–0.865, P = 8.97 × 10–4), respectively. We also observed suggestive evidence for mood instability to cause mouth ulcers [IVW, OR = 1.662 (1.059–2.609), P = 0.027]. These results were robust to weak instrument bias and heterogeneity. We found no evidence on causal effects between other psychiatric traits and mouth ulcers, in either direction. Conclusion Our findings suggest a protective effect of subjective wellbeing and risk effects of autism spectrum disorder, insomnia, major depressive disorder, and mood instability on mouth ulcers. These results clarify the causal relationship between psychiatric traits and the development of mouth ulcers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Wang
- Key Laboratory for Environment and Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Lin Ding
- Key Laboratory for Environment and Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Can Yang
- Department of Mathematics, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xingjie Hao
- Key Laboratory for Environment and Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Chaolong Wang
- Key Laboratory for Environment and Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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Bauernschmidt D. [Employed persons caring simultaneously for children and care-dependent relatives - a scoping review]. Pflege 2020; 33:153-163. [PMID: 32375551 DOI: 10.1024/1012-5302/a000736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Employed persons caring simultaneously for children and care-dependent relatives - a scoping review Abstract. Background: Due to the demographic changes with higher life expectancy, later childbirth, and an increasing number of working women, more middle-aged persons are confronted with the care needs of younger and older generations while they themselves are still employed. Aim: The objective of this manuscript is to review the body of knowledge about employed people caring simultaneously for underaged children and care-dependent relatives. Methods: The databases MEDLINE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, GeroLit, CC Med, SOWIPORT Gesis, PsycINFO and BASE were searched without any time limitations. Publications in German and English were included into this scoping review regardless of the study design. Results: A total of 85 studies from Western countries were included. Research activity is centered in North America and there are only limited empirical findings from the German-speaking regions. Nearly 70 % of the studies used a quantitative design. Research questions address the consequences of adopting multiple roles and the compatibility of different areas of life. In total, role theoretical perspectives predominate. Conclusions: The findings show that little attention has been paid to this specific issue in German-speaking regions. The methodical limitations and inadequate theoretical differentiation of the studies led to partly contradictory results. Future research should take the complexity of this living situation into account while considering methodical approaches and theoretical foundations.
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Johnston R, Sunners J, Murphy E. Child and family health nursing: A workforce profile. J Nurs Manag 2020; 28:532-539. [DOI: 10.1111/jonm.12953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2019] [Revised: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Robyn Johnston
- Child Youth and Family Health Northern Sydney Local Health District St Leonards NSW Australia
| | - Joanne Sunners
- Child Youth and Family Health Northern Sydney Local Health District St Leonards NSW Australia
- Child and Family Health University of Technology Sydney NSW Australia
| | - Elisabeth Murphy
- Child Youth and Family Health Northern Sydney Local Health District St Leonards NSW Australia
- Child Health School of Medicine Sydney University of Notre Dame Broadway NSW Australia
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Chuakhamfoo NN, Phanthunane P, Chansirikarn S, Pannarunothai S. Health and long-term care of the elderly with dementia in rural Thailand: a cross-sectional survey through their caregivers. BMJ Open 2020; 10:e032637. [PMID: 32209620 PMCID: PMC7202699 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-032637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To describe the circumstances of the elderly with dementia and their caregivers' characteristics in order to examine factors related to activities of daily living (ADL) and household income to propose a long-term care policy for rural areas of Thailand. SETTING A cross-sectional study at the household level in three rural regions of Thailand where there were initiatives relating to community care for people with dementia. PARTICIPANTS Caregivers of 140 people with dementia were recruited for the study. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES Socioeconomic characteristics including data from assessment of ADL and instrumental ADL and the Thai version of Resource Utilisation in Dementia were collected. Descriptive statistics were used to explain the characteristics of the elderly with dementia and the caregivers while inferential statistics were used to examine the associations between different factors of elderly patients with dementia with their dependency level and household socioeconomic status. RESULTS Eighty-six per cent of the dementia caregivers were household informal caregivers as half of them also had to work outside the home. Half of the primary caregivers had no support and no minor caregivers. The elderly with dementia with high dependency levels were found to have a significant association with age, dementia severity, chance of hospitalisation and number of hospitalisations. Though most of these rural samples had low household incomes, the patients in the lower-income households had significantly lower dementia severity, but, with the health benefit coverage had significantly higher chances of hospitalisation. CONCLUSION As the informal caregivers are the principal human resources for dementia care and services in rural area, policymakers should consider informal care for the Thai elderly with dementia and promote it as the dominant pattern of dementia care in Thailand.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nalinee N Chuakhamfoo
- Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, Thailand
| | - Pudtan Phanthunane
- Department of Economics, Faculty of Business, Economics and Communications, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, Thailand
| | - Sirintorn Chansirikarn
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Supasit Pannarunothai
- Research unit, Centre for Health Equity Monitoring Foundation, Phitsanulok, Thailand
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Wu S, Zheng X. The Effect of Family Adaptation and Cohesion on the Well-being of Married Women: A Multiple Mediation Effect. The Journal of General Psychology 2019; 147:90-107. [PMID: 31291171 DOI: 10.1080/00221309.2019.1635075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
In the years since the implementation of the two-child policy in China, there has been an increase in attention to the psychological status of married women. It is necessary to increase knowledge on the association between family cohesion and the adaptation of married women and their well-being. To accomplish this goal, the mediating variables of social support and positive coping style were examined in this paper. Married women were assessed using the Family Adaptation and Cohesion Scale, the General Well-Being Schedule, the Perceived Social Support Scale, and the Positive Coping Style Scale. The 353 participants were married women across three provinces in China. The results indicated that (1) there is a significant positive correlation between family cohesion, adaptation, subjective well-being, age, and employment status; (2) there is a correlation between perceived social support, family adaptation and cohesion, and well-being; and (3) the effect of family cohesion and adaptation on subjective well-being is mediated by perceived social support and positive coping style. Therefore, married women with good family adaptation and cohesion can get adequate support from family members and have higher subjective well-being.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to evaluate the regulatory dynamics between stress and fatigue experienced by women during the menopausal transition (MT) and early postmenopause (EPM). Fatigue and perceived stress are commonly experienced by women during the MT and EPM. We sought to discover relationships between these symptoms and to employ these symptoms as possible markers for resilience. METHODS Participants were drawn from the longitudinal Seattle Midlife Women's Health Study. Eligible women completed questionnaires on 60+ occasions (annual health reports and monthly health diaries) (n = 56 women). The total number of observations across the sample was 4,224. STRAW+10 criteria were used to stage women in either in late reproductive, early or late transition, or EPM stage. Change values were generated for fatigue and stress and analyzed with a multilevel structural equation model; slopes indicate how quickly a person returns to homeostasis after a perturbation. Coupling of stress and fatigue was modeled to evaluate resilience, the notion of maintaining stability during change. RESULTS Eligible women were on average 35 years old (SD = 4.71), well educated, employed, married or partnered, and white. Fit indices suggested the model depicts the relationships of stress and fatigue (χ(9 df) = 7.638, P = 0.57, correction factor = 4.9244; root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) 90% CI = 0.000 ≤ 0.000 ≤ 0.032; comparative fit index (CFI) = 1.00). A loss in model fit across stages suggests that the four stages differed in their dynamics (χΔ(12 df) = 21.181, P = .048). All stages showed fixed-point attractor dynamics: fatigue became less stable over time; stress generally became more stable over time. Coupling relationships of stress on fatigue show evidence for shifts in regulatory relationships with one another across the MT. CONCLUSIONS Results are suggestive of general dysregulation via disruptions to coupling relationships of stress and fatigue across the MT. Findings support a holistic approach to understanding symptoms and supporting women during the MT.
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Strang S, Osmanovic M, Hallberg C, Strang P. Family Caregivers' Heavy and Overloaded Burden in Advanced Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. J Palliat Med 2018; 21:1768-1772. [PMID: 30118371 DOI: 10.1089/jpm.2018.0010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Due to severe symptoms and poor prognosis in advanced cases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is today seen as a palliative diagnosis. The everyday lives of patients as well as their relatives are restricted and affected by significant psychosocial problems. OBJECTIVE To obtain detailed knowledge about people's experiences, for example, transitions in relationships, responsibility, and possible changes in communication, caused by the illness. DESIGN This is a qualitative interview study using both focus group interviews and individual interviews. SETTING/SUBJECTS In total, 35 family members with personal experience of living with a person with severe COPD were interviewed. MEASUREMENTS The semistructured interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed with a qualitative content analysis. RESULTS Three themes emerged: (1) A restricted everyday life. The family caregivers felt confined to their own home, they had to be constantly attentive, and their lives became increasingly restricted. (2) A changed relationship. There was a shift in responsibility and their mutual communication. The family caregivers' own needs were neglected and the relationship was affected. (3) Joy through adaption. Still, caregivers strived for normality and, through gradual adaption, they could still experience joy. CONCLUSIONS Being a family caregiver is a burdensome and complex situation. Besides providing practical help, the family caregiver needs to support the ill person. Roles and communication patterns are changed. Healthcare staff must identify the needs of the family caregivers. A family caregiver who feels acknowledged and confident can support their severely ill family member.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susann Strang
- 1 Angered Hospital, Angered, Sweden.,2 Institute of Caring Sciences and Health, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | | | | | - Peter Strang
- 3 Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm and Stockholms Sjukhem, Stockholm, Sweden
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