Focusing on quality of life in the family caregivers of patients with schizophrenia from the perspective of family functioning

Abstract

The study aimed to explore the association between family functioning and quality of life (QOL) in family caregivers of patients with schizophrenia. Totally 121 family caregivers were surveyed in the cross-sectional study by the self-administration questionnaires about sociodemographic characteristics, family functioning and QOL. Family functioning was evaluated in terms of the family assessment device and the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale II China Version. QOL was evaluated in terms of TSDHE short-form 12-item health survey, version 2. Multiple regression models were built to explore the association between QOL and family functioning. A regression analysis showed that poorer physical health of family caregivers was significantly associated with the lower educational level of caregivers, the closer kinship with patients and the multiple episodes schizophrenia. The other regression analysis showed that better family adaptability and affective responsiveness were significantly associated with the better mental health of family caregivers. Family functioning is associated with mental health rather than the physical health of family caregivers. Psychoeducational intervention could focus on family caregivers with a lower educational level and closer kinship, and those who look after patients with multiple episodes schizophrenia. Further family intervention could focus on family adaptability and affective expression in family caregivers of patients with schizophrenia.

Family Functioning and Health-Related Quality of Life in Parents of Children with Mental Illness

“…Poorer family functioning was associated with lower parental mental HRQoL. This is consistent with previous research; in family caregivers of individuals with schizophrenia, worse family adaptability and affective responsiveness was related to lower mental HRQoL, although not lower physical HRQoL of caregivers (Meng et al, 2021 ). It is possible that the demands related to the child’s mental illness increase strain on the family system, leading to dysfunctional family functioning, which in turn decreases parental mental HRQoL.…”

Grupos de Terapia Ocupacional com familiares em saúde mental: a percepção dos cuidadores de pessoas com esquizofrenia

“…Visto a propensão do adoecimento do cuidador, a literatura nacional e internacional sugere maior atenção às cargas e dificuldades para evitar doenças causadas pelo estresse e sobrecarga. O suporte profissional se faz necessário para fornecer informações sobre o transtorno mental, medidas de suporte que considerem a sua proteção e recursos terapêuticos voltados aos familiares (10,(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24) .…”

“…Foi identificado na literatura que intervenções grupais psicoeducativas, psicoterapêuticas e psicossociais são importantes estratégias de cuidado para o apoio e instrumentalização de familiares cuidadores, já que existe a necessidade de ações que proporcionem melhores condições de saúde ao cuidador, sendo os grupos de psicoeducação um meio de compartilhar informações conforme a demanda identificada a fim de possibilitar ao cuidador compreender melhor o diagnóstico e o papel que deve ser desenvolvido por ele (13)(14) .…”

Health Service Needs from a Household Perspective: An Empirical Study in Rural Empty Nest Families in Sinan and Dangyang, China

“…For example, for patients with chronic disease, their family caregivers take responsibility for maintaining treatment compliance, supervising medication intake, and providing emotional and economic support. However, family caregivers often show poorer health than those in families without a patient, and they are more likely to suffer from a host of problems, such as anger, fear, and depression [ 13 , 14 ]. People’s health is also associated with those with whom they are living.…”