Experiences of self‐stigmatization and parenting in Chinese mothers with severe mental illness

Chan, Sonia Ying Yin; Ho, Grace W.K.; Bressington, Daniel

doi:10.1111/inm.12558

Cited by 19 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…Four papers relied on psychiatrists’ diagnoses (Chan et al ., 2002; Chen et al ., 1999; Ding et al ., 2018; Wong, 2014), while mothers in another four papers were screened by researchers using scales such as the Beck Depression Inventory (Chen et al ., 2006), the Chinese version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (Gao et al ., 2010; Leung et al ., 2005), and the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale‐21 (Yue et al ., 2018). The remaining one paper did not report how parents were diagnosed, though participants were recruited from the community mental health support centres (Chan et al ., 2019).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Across the nine papers, mothers repeatedly described the challenges of parenting while managing their illness. To illustrate, mothers’ parenting behaviours were impacted by the medication, with some mothers reporting feeling ‘drowsy’ (Chan et al ., 2019: 533) and ‘woolly’ (Chan et al ., 2019: 532) as, ‘I was unable to tell him [the child] what I needed to do… he could only follow me around’ (Chan et al ., 2019: 532). Likewise, some mothers with PPD described the interrelationship between their mental health and their relationship with their babies, for example blaming ‘the baby as a burden that caused their unhappiness’ and another her baby causing her to ‘distancing [sic] from their husbands’ and ‘feel useless’ (Chan et al ., 2002: 575, secondary data).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Chinese mothers’ experiences of family life when they have a mental illness: A qualitative systematic review

Chen

Vivekananda

2021

Int J Mental Health Nurs

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The challenges experienced by families in western countries, where a parent has a mental illness, are well established. However, research documenting the experiences of Chinese families with parental mental illness appears limited. This study aimed to systematically review qualitative research about the experiences of families, living in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan, where parents have a mental illness. Eight databases were comprehensively searched, along with manual search of reference lists. The identified studies were critically appraised and analysed using a thematic synthesis approach. Ten papers were identified, with nine investigating mothers’ experiences, one focusing on children’s experiences, and none reporting on fathers’ experiences. Subsequently, only papers presenting mothers’ experiences were included for thematic synthesis. Five primary themes were identified including managing parenting in the context of mental illness; failure to meet one’s expectations of motherhood; being burdened by others’ expectations; stigma from self, others and service providers; and support obtained and needed. Similar to western mothers, Chinese mothers struggled to balance the demands of parenting and their illness, and experienced stigma associated with being a parent with a mental illness. Western and Chinese mothers’ experiences differ in regard to the influence of parents‐in‐law and the division of domestic labour. Future research might investigate Chinese mothers with various mental health diagnoses, the perspectives of Chinese fathers with a mental illness, and the children in these families.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chinese mothers’ experiences of family life when they have a mental illness: A qualitative systematic review

Chen

Vivekananda

2021

Int J Mental Health Nurs

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“…Parents also described feeling embarrassed (Hinshaw 2005), ashamed, and/or guilty over the potential effects of their illness on children (Chan et al . 2019; van Doesum et al . 2016; Gatsou et al .…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…2017; Hinshaw 2005) and were fearful of the negative reactions or judgements from others, including health and support services (Chan et al . 2019; Bartsch et al . 2016; Cogan et al .…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Parents also described feeling embarrassed (Hinshaw 2005), ashamed, and/or guilty over the potential effects of their illness on children (Chan et al 2019;van Doesum et al 2016;Gatsou et al 2017;Hinshaw 2005) and were fearful of the negative reactions or judgements from others, including health and support services (Chan et al 2019;Bartsch et al 2016;Cogan et al 2005b;Cremers et al 2014Cremers et al , 2016Gatsou et al 2017). In Laegsgaard et al (2010, p. 475) self-blame was experienced, based on perceptions about the parent's illness associated with a 'loss of control and the failure to contribute to family life and to society' (Laegsgaard et al 2010, p. 475).…”

Section: Experiences Of Stigma For Familiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Stigma in relation to families living with parental mental illness: An integrative review

Reupert

Gladstone

Hine

et al. 2020

Int J Mental Health Nurs

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Stigma is a pervasive social mechanism with negative ramifications for people who experience mental illness. Less is known about the stigma experiences of families where a parent has a mental illness. This review aims to identify and synthesize evidence on the concept of stigma and stigma-related experiences and outcomes reported by parents and children living with parental mental illness. An integrative review method was employed, with PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses) guidelines to search and select literature and extract and analyse data. This approach allows for inclusion of theoretical and empirical literature and for concept definition. Fifty-eight papers, mostly from the USA, Australia, and the UK, met the inclusion criteria. Stigma was primarily conceptualized in families as a marked difference that was negatively appraised, and which could be internalized. Some articles examined how underpinning assumptions could shape the behaviour of individuals and groups and be embedded within social institutions and structures. For parents, mental illness stigma was interconnected with stigma relating to perceived violations of social and cultural norms related to parenting. Children's experience of stigma resulted in bullying, embarrassment, guilt and social isolation, and efforts to conceal their parent's mental illness. One outcome was that stigma prevented children and parents from seeking much needed supports. Public health policies and campaigns that focus exclusively on promoting open disclosure of mental illness to foster community education outcomes are unlikely to be effective without additional strategies aimed at preventing and redressing the structural impacts of stigma for all family members.

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Parenting and Serious Mental Illness (SMI): A Systematic Review and Metasynthesis

Harries

Smith

Gregg

et al. 2023

Clin Child Fam Psychol Rev

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The consequences of Serious Mental Illness (SMI) on parent and child outcomes can be profound. Supporting parents to manage their caregiving roles alongside parental SMI successfully has been recognised as a public health priority. To meet this priority and develop effective and acceptable interventions, it is imperative that parents’ experiences and support needs are understood. This systematic review aimed to synthesise qualitative research that explored parents’ experiences and perceptions of the impact of SMI on their parenting and their corresponding support needs. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis guidelines were followed. Five databases were searched for terms associated with SMI, parenting, and qualitative research. Twenty-nine studies involving 562 parents who experienced SMI met inclusion criteria, and the methodological quality of included studies was appraised using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme. After findings were synthesised using thematic synthesis, six themes were identified: (1) The constrained parent, (2) parenting difficulties, (3) the strained child, (4) inescapable threat, (5) combatting threat, and (6) wrap-around support needs. Novel insights into the centrality of SMI-related parenting difficulties and threat perceptions across parent, family, healthcare, and wider social systems on strained parent–child and distanced parent–support relationships were highlighted. Systemic practice change initiatives via compassionate and inclusive system-wide support were recommended.

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Experiences of self‐stigmatization and parenting in Chinese mothers with severe mental illness

Cited by 19 publications

References 55 publications

Chinese mothers’ experiences of family life when they have a mental illness: A qualitative systematic review

Chinese mothers’ experiences of family life when they have a mental illness: A qualitative systematic review

Stigma in relation to families living with parental mental illness: An integrative review

Parenting and Serious Mental Illness (SMI): A Systematic Review and Metasynthesis

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