Full Text Available

Note: Clicking the button above will open the full text document at the original institutional repository in a new window.

Families’ experiences with schizophrenia

Thesis (MA (Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Molefi, Stanley
Other Authors: Swartz, Leslie
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch 2009
Subjects:
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1867613773233127424
access_status_str Open Access
author Molefi, Stanley
author2 Swartz, Leslie
author_browse Molefi, Stanley
Swartz, Leslie
author_facet Swartz, Leslie
Molefi, Stanley
author_sort Molefi, Stanley
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv University of Stellenbosch
description Thesis (MA (Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009.
format Thesis
id oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/2567
institution Stellenbosch University (South Africa)
language English
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:41:28.315Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
publishDate 2009
publishDateRange 2009
publishDateSort 2009
publisher Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
publisherStr Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
record_format dspace
source_str SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
spelling oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/2567 Families’ experiences with schizophrenia Molefi, Stanley Swartz, Leslie University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Psychology. Dissertations -- Psychology Theses -- Psychology Schizophrenia -- Family relationships Thesis (MA (Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Families of people with schizophrenia often experience difficult challenges when it comes to dealing with this illness. Contemporary researchers suggest that families often take on the task of caring for their ill relatives with limited resources and support. Mental health professionals often fail to include the families in the treatment of their relatives. Although psychoeducation has been shown to be an important process that helps not only the families but relatives as well, mental health professionals commonly do not involve families in such activities. This study explored the experiences of families of people with schizophrenia and their subsequent contact with mental health professionals, as well as their understanding of schizophrenia as a mental disorder. To this end, a small sample of 10 families (four Xhosa speaking families as well as six Coloured families) was drawn in the Western Cape area on a convenience basis. In each case a family caregiver was interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Data were content analyzed. The findings of the study indicate that families find it difficult to deal with their ill relatives. Families often experience stigma-related incidents because of their relatives. They feel isolated and alone. Families often yearn to receive more information about the illness of their relatives. Also, the contact between mental health professionals and families was reported to be minimal at best. Family members reported that mental health professionals do not include them in the treatment process. Recommendations for further research and practice are made. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die families van mense met skisofrenie kom moeilike uitdagings teë op hul pad met hierdie versteuring. Hedendaagse navorsers vind dat die families gereeld die verantwoordelikheid aanneem om na die siek familielid om te sien met beperkte hulpbronne en ondersteuning. Geestesgesondheidswerkers sluit dikwels nie die families in by die behandeling van hul familielede nie. Alhoewel psigo-opvoeding as 'n belangrike proses erken word, wat nie net die families nie, maar ook die siek familielid help, word dit nie in die praktyk toegepas deur geestesgesondheidwerkers nie. Hierdie studie verken die ervaringe van die families van mense met skisofrenie en hul daaropvolgende kontak met geestesgesondheid werkers, asook hul begrip van skisofrenie as ’n versteuring. Heirvoor is ’n klein steekproef (vier Xhosa-sprekende asook ses Kleurling families) geneem in die Wes-Kaap op ’n gerieflikheidsbasis. In elke geval is ’n semigestruktureerde onderhoud gevoer met ’n familie versorger. Die data is geanaliseer volgens inhoud. Die bevindinge van die studie dui aan dat families dit moeilik vind om hul siek familielede te hanteer. Families ervaar dikwels stigma as gevolg van hul siek familielede. Hulle voel geïsoleerd en alleen. Families smag dikwels daarna om inligting te bekom oor die versteuring van hul familielede. Verder is die kontak tussen families en geestesgesondheidswerkers minimaal ten beste van tye. Families rapporteer dat geestesgesondheid werkers hulle as families nie by die behandelingsproses insluit nie. Voorstelle vir verdure navorsing en die praktyk word gemaak. Masters 2009-06-18T09:08:42Z 2010-06-01T08:52:29Z 2009-06-18T09:08:42Z 2010-06-01T08:52:29Z 2009-12 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/2567 en University of Stellenbosch application/pdf Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
spellingShingle Dissertations -- Psychology
Theses -- Psychology
Schizophrenia -- Family relationships
Molefi, Stanley
Families’ experiences with schizophrenia
title Families’ experiences with schizophrenia
title_full Families’ experiences with schizophrenia
title_fullStr Families’ experiences with schizophrenia
title_full_unstemmed Families’ experiences with schizophrenia
title_short Families’ experiences with schizophrenia
title_sort families experiences with schizophrenia
topic Dissertations -- Psychology
Theses -- Psychology
Schizophrenia -- Family relationships
url http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/2567
work_keys_str_mv AT molefistanley familiesexperienceswithschizophrenia