“FAMILIES OF YOUTH WITH MENTAL ILLNESS: INFLUENCE OF FAMILY RESILIENCE ON CAREGIVER STRAIN"

Abstract

Objective: Parents of youth with mental illness bear considerable caregiving burden, which could negatively impact their physical and mental health. Yet, the influence of the family system on caregivers’ burden is not well-understood. This observational study aimed to investigate the relationship between family resilience and caregiver strain experienced by parents of youth with diagnosed mental illness. Domains of family resilience included family belief systems, organisational patterns and communication / problem-solving. Dimensions of caregiver strain measured were objective, subjective externalised and subjective internalised strain. Methods: Quantitative data were collected cross-sectionally from 53 parent caregivers through an anonymous online survey. Participants were recruited from a community-based agency that provides support services to caregivers of individuals with mental illness. Multivariable regression models were constructed, statistically controlled for the effects of caregiver and youth’s sociodemographic characteristics. It was hypothesised that higher family resilience is linked to lower caregiver strain. Specifically, total family resilience would be associated with all three dimensions of caregiver strain and family resilience domains would each be independently associated with global caregiver strain. Results: Results partially confirms the study’s hypotheses. Family resilience had a negative and significant effect on caregiver strain. Specifically, family resilience was significantly associated with all three dimensions of caregiver strain. However, individual domains of family resilience were not independently associated with caregiver strain. This result suggests possible interactions between domains of family resilience. Caregivers’ age and socioeconomic status, and youths’ symptom severity had statistically significant effects on caregiver strain in multivariable regression. Conclusions: Findings highlight the need to support caregivers by focusing on the family system. Social workers can adopt a family resilience approach in direct practice with families of youth with mental illness and advocate for greater family inclusion and support in mental health service provision.