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

Abstract

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.

Factors related to resilience of academically gifted students in the chinese cultural and educational environment

“…Stewart and Sun () found that supporting parents at home could have significant effect on students’ resilience. Similarly, Herbert, Manjula, and Philip () showed that experiencing a supportive relationship with parents could increase one's resilience, and Bowes, Maughan, Caspi, Moffitt, and Arseneault () also provided evidence for supporting the positive association between parents’ relationship and resilience. However, there was some research that did not show such positive relationships.…”

Psychological Well Being and Self Esteem among Children (18-25 Years) of Mentally Ill Parents at a Selected Psychiatric Unit, Mangaluru - A Correlational Study

“…Girls had higher rate of emotional problems. [18] The study also found that out of 100 participants majority 91% of the samples were found to be having normal self esteem 6% of the samples were with low self esteem and only 3% samples having high self esteem. The mean of the self-esteem score among children of mentally ill parents is 20.75± 2.84.…”

“…In the tool 10 statements (4, 5, 6, 10, 12,14,15,16, 21 and 24) are negative and rest 18 statements are positive. Scores are classified (0-9) as low psychological well being, (10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20) as intermediate psychological well being and (21-28) as high psychological well being. Higher the score, higher the psychological well being.…”

“…Girls had higher rate of emotional problems. [18] Experience of stigma and psychological well being among adult children of parents with schizophrenia was conducted at NIMHANS Bangalore. The study adopted a two group comparison cross sectional methodology.…”

The Lived Experiences of Adolescents Living with a Schizophrenic Mother

“…The relationship disturbance was marked by disorganized attachment so that her children had difficulty trusting others. Herbert, Manjula, and Philip (2013) stated that the relationship disturbance of the children who live with schizophrenic parents caused them to have emotional, social, and academic difficulty. The emotional difficulties felt by those children were fear, loneliness, and the loss of peace and happiness in the family.…”