How people with psychosis positively contribute to their family: a grounded theory analysis

Abstract

The literature on psychosis and schizophrenia has tended to take a burden perspective, positioning the person with the diagnosis as being cared for, rather than being able to contribute to their family. A few studies have suggested that people with this diagnosis do contribute to their families. None have explored how this process takes place. This research aims to explore how people with psychosis contribute to their family and what factors help and hinder this. Six individuals with a diagnosis of schizophrenia and six relatives were interviewed and data was analysed using grounded theory. The emergent theory suggests that people with psychosis do contribute positively to their family. The process is shaped by individual, familial and societal factors and relies on the availability of an opportunity to contribute. The psychological rewards of contributing for both family and individuals suggest this is a process worth facilitating and using therapeutically in clinical work.

Care‐giving by people with psychotic disorders in the second Australian prevalence study of psychosis

“…Given the contribution of psychiatric disability to the widespread social isolation of people with psychosis (Stain et al., ), being involved in care‐giving relationships is one potentially important way for them to contribute socially to their families and communities. This is consistent with other reports that care recipients appreciated care‐giving support from people with mental illness (Coldwell et al., ; Greenberg, ; Horwitz et al., ).…”

“…Caregivers experienced greater warmth and closeness within their personal relationships than non‐caregivers consistent with other studies (Coldwell et al., ; Granerud & Severinsson, ). Further, those who provided care to others were more socially engaged through employment and home duties.…”

“…Studies examining care‐giving by people with mental illness outside the context of their own receipt of care are uncommon and have typically used qualitative research methods (Coldwell, Meddings, & Camic, ; Granerud & Severinsson, ; Williams & Mfoafo‐M'Carthy, ). These showed that people with psychosis desired to contribute through caring and that care‐giving was rewarding to themselves and the care recipients (Coldwell et al., ; Granerud & Severinsson, ). Similar to those in reciprocal care‐giving relationships, people with psychosis provided emotional support, did household chores and ran errands for family members and friends (Coldwell et al., ; Granerud & Severinsson, ; Williams & Mfoafo‐M'Carthy, ) and had better social connection with others, including their families (Coldwell et al., ; Granerud & Severinsson, ).…”

“…Studies examining care‐giving by people with mental illness outside the context of their own receipt of care are uncommon and have typically used qualitative research methods (Coldwell, Meddings, & Camic, ; Granerud & Severinsson, ; Williams & Mfoafo‐M'Carthy, ). These showed that people with psychosis desired to contribute through caring and that care‐giving was rewarding to themselves and the care recipients (Coldwell et al., ; Granerud & Severinsson, ).…”

“…These showed that people with psychosis desired to contribute through caring and that care‐giving was rewarding to themselves and the care recipients (Coldwell et al., ; Granerud & Severinsson, ). Similar to those in reciprocal care‐giving relationships, people with psychosis provided emotional support, did household chores and ran errands for family members and friends (Coldwell et al., ; Granerud & Severinsson, ; Williams & Mfoafo‐M'Carthy, ) and had better social connection with others, including their families (Coldwell et al., ; Granerud & Severinsson, ). This study attempts to further investigate this potentially important life role using quantitative research methods in a large population‐based sample.…”