What do children know about their parent’s mental illness? A systematic review of international literature on children in families with mental illness

Cudjoe, Ebenezer; Chiu, Min‐Sen

doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105638

Cited by 10 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…Strategies can include taking ‘time‐outs’ like leaving the house, putting on loud music to counter the parent's shouting or arguments with partner and engaging in sports. Coping strategies are important for children to reduce the negative impact of parental mental illness on their life (Cudjoe & Chiu, 2020). However, some children may engage in problematic coping behaviours like the use of alcohol and drugs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Living with parental mental illness is like a roller coaster: Reflections on children's lifeworld in the family setting

Cudjoe

Tam

Effah³

et al. 2022

Journal of Clinical Nursing

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Aims and objectives To explore what it is like for children in the family setting to live with parental mental illness. Background There are reported risks of negative social and behavioural outcomes among children living with parental mental illness such as poor school performance, isolation and poor mental health. There is yet more to know about how children's interactions with significant members of the family shape their experiences. Design A phenomenological design following Husserl's concepts of lifeworld and inter‐subjectivity was adapted for the study. Method Twenty‐one children (ages 10–17) who lived with a parent with mental illness were interviewed. The data were analysed to attain the essential features of the phenomenon. The study followed the COREQ checklist for qualitative studies. Findings The essence of the phenomenon ‘living with parental mental illness’ in the family setting comprises strain, sadness and some happy moments. Living with parental mental illness can produce unpredictable life situations for children as relationships and interactions in the family setting can be chaotic and confusing. The ups and downs define their lifeworld as a roller coaster. Strenuous family environment, sibling interaction, navigating separate living arrangements and there are good days were specific themes that clarified the children's lives as a roller coaster. Conclusion A concept called the ‘parent paradox’ is coined to reflect how children are torn between what their living situation looks like comparing the parent with mental illness and the other without mental illness. The paradox is founded on children's loyalty towards their parents. Relevance to clinical practice To break the unhealthy cycle created by the parent paradox, mental health nurses should ensure that children are well informed about the parent's mental condition including information about treatment procedures and recovery. Child's psychological distress may be reduced when they are informed.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Living with parental mental illness is like a roller coaster: Reflections on children's lifeworld in the family setting

Cudjoe

Tam

Effah³

et al. 2022

Journal of Clinical Nursing

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“…It is, therefore, often necessary for a family member to notice change in behaviour, and without adequate mental health knowledge, it may be more difficult for families to identify changes in their relative and help them access treatment (Oluwoye et al, 2020). The children in this study knew very little about their parent's experiences of psychosis, reflecting the findings of other qualitative work with children of parents with psychosis (Boström & Strand, 2021) and other mental health difficulties (Cudjoe & Chiu, 2020). Parents were reluctant to talk to their children about their psychotic episode(s), and thought that their children would not understand if they did try to explain.…”

Section: Key Findingsmentioning

confidence: 85%

“…The findings of qualitative research with this group of children suggests that many worried about their parents, experienced inconsistent parenting and often took on additional responsibility in the household (Gladstone et al, 2011; Yamamoto & Keogh, 2018). A frequent finding was also that children of parents with mental illness felt themselves to be ill‐informed about their parent's mental health difficulties, with this often leading to them feeling confused and guilty (Cudjoe & Chiu, 2020; Yamamoto & Keogh, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A family perspective on parental psychosis: An interpretative phenomenological analysis study

2022

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Objectives While one third of people with a psychotic disorder are a parent, there has been little research to date examining the consequences of this from a whole family perspective. This study investigates families where a parent has experienced an episode of psychosis and compares and contrasts the family members' perspectives. Design This study was rooted in phenomenology and data were derived from in‐depth semi‐structured interviews. Methods Parents with a psychotic disorder who had a child aged between 3 and 11 in a UK NHS Trust were invited to take part in the study. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with these parents, with their child (if they were between the ages of 8 and 11), and with their partner or another close family member. Data were analysed using multiperspectival interpretive phenomenological analysis (m‐IPA). Results Thirteen participants took part comprising of five parents, four children, three partners and one grandmother. Four themes were developed using m‐IPA: (1) Parental psychosis impacts the whole family, (2) Psychosis and my role as a parent, (3) Secrecy and concealment surrounding parental psychosis, and (4) Pressures and vulnerabilities within the family system. Conclusion Psychosis had a negative impact on all family members and secrecy existed between family members. The children in particular only had partial information about their parent's mental illness, which left them worried and confused. More work is needed to support these families to explain psychosis to the children.

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“…However, not all children are at risk nor does the fact that having parents with mental illness mean that they will also develop mental illness. Attention has been drawn to the need to look into the experiences of children themselves and understand what it means for them to have a parent with mental illness without necessarily dwelling on the risk discourse (Cudjoe & Chiu, 2020; Gladstone et al, 2006). When a focus is on the children’s own experiences, we can better understand how they negotiate this journey.…”

Section: Adding Salt To Wounds?mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…One of these interventions, the Family Focus DVD, has been known to significantly increase children’s mental health knowledge (Grove et al, 2015). Research suggests that when children know much about their parents’ mental illness, they are less likely to blame themselves for their parents’ illness, reduce isolation and improve relationships within as well as with others outside the family (Cudjoe & Chiu, 2020; Grove et al, 2017). The Family Focus DVD has two sections, one for parent and the other for children.…”

Section: Social Work Interventionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“Adding salt to wounds”: Parentification among children living with parents with mental illness during the COVID-19 pandemic and the role of social workers

Cudjoe

Kwabia

Chiu

et al. 2021

Developmental Child Welfare

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Children living with a parent with mental illness experience challenges as some may take on the roles of their parents. Physical distancing restrictions introduced because of the COVID-19 pandemic means that many children will spend more time at home which could heighten the impact of parental mental illness. For many of these children, engaging in activities with peers provides them a sort of normal life outside their family environment. However, face-to-face interactions with others outside the family may be limited under existing public health protocols. Moreover, services for children in families where there is parental mental illness may also be limited considering limitations placed on people’s movements to reduce the rate of COVID-19 infections. This opinion article draws on existing research and practitioner knowledge to suggest how social workers can continue supporting these children and their families during the COVID-19 pandemic. Support, in the form of online interventions, have been recommended to meet the needs of children during the pandemic period. Online support is timely because it is easily accessible and often does not require face-to-face interactions. Social workers and other human service professionals should be able to adapt existing online services to the needs of the children which they serve.

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What do children know about their parent’s mental illness? A systematic review of international literature on children in families with mental illness

Cited by 10 publications

References 47 publications

Living with parental mental illness is like a roller coaster: Reflections on children's lifeworld in the family setting

Living with parental mental illness is like a roller coaster: Reflections on children's lifeworld in the family setting

A family perspective on parental psychosis: An interpretative phenomenological analysis study

“Adding salt to wounds”: Parentification among children living with parents with mental illness during the COVID-19 pandemic and the role of social workers

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