Exploring caregiving-related experiences among Chinese American and European American family caregivers of persons with mental illness

Dados Bibliográficos

ID15085998
AutoresMeekyung Han (0000-0002-6573-1811, San Jose State University), Sadhna Diwan (0000-0002-9811-3120, San Jose State University), Karen Sun (San Jose State University)
Ano2019
Volume56
Fascículo3
Páginas491-509
Data de publicação2019-06-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoTranscultural Psychiatry (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 1363-4615 • E-ISSN: 1461-7471
EditoraSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/1363461519827690
PMID30758257
OpenAlexW2911553224
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas11
Referências citadas23

Family caregivers (FCs) of people with mental illness (PMI) experience caregiving-related distress. These challenges tend to be greater for Asian American families due to acculturative stress and structural barriers to services. However, little is known about caregiving-related experiences among FCs of PMI within a cultural context. By using an exploratory approach, we examined the experience of caregiver distress and the influence of cultural values on caregiving in European American and Chinese American FCs. In collaboration with community-based agencies, a combination of convenience and snowball sampling methods were used to recruit Chinese American and European American caregivers who co-reside with PMIs. Two focus groups with each ethnic group with 57 participants (30 Chinese and 27 European American) were conducted. Thematic analysis indicates that FCs experience intense emotions, health/mental health problems, and a negative impact on their personal/social lives. Whereas Chinese American FCs reported shame, lack of knowledge, and over-protectiveness of PMIs, European American FCs reported the need for advocacy on behalf of the PMI. Findings indicate a need for: 1) greater awareness of the caregiving experience on wellbeing of FCs; 2) an understanding of how cultural values may influence caregiver experience; and 3) developing culturally relevant prevention and intervention services that can support FCs from diverse cultural contexts

Chinese americans · Cultural diversity · Distress · Ethnic group · Focus group · Mental health · Mental illness · Psychiatry · Qualitative research · Shame · Snowball sampling · Sociology · Thematic analysis · Clinical Psychology · Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research · Family Caregiving in Mental Illness · Medicine · Mental Health Treatment and Access · Psychology · Social Psychology