The Lived Experience of Parent Caregivers of Adolescents with Mental Illness: A Phenomenological Study.
Asma Al Yahyaei, Omar Al Omari, Loai Abu Sharour and 6 others
PMID 38328010WHAT IT FOUND
Parents of adolescents with mental illness in Oman described heavy emotional burdens, guilt, and fear for their children's future.
They reported struggling to access psychotherapy and worrying about medication side effects and long-term dependency.
Key findings
01Caregivers experienced significant emotional burden, guilt, and self-blame related to managing their adolescents' unpredictable symptoms.
02Access to psychotherapy was a major source of frustration due to scarcity and long waiting times.
03Concerns about medication side effects and long-term dependency frequently led to treatment discontinuation by patients or caregivers.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study relied exclusively on self-report data from caregivers, which may introduce recall or social desirability biases. Findings are limited to the cultural context of Oman and may not generalize to other populations. The sample size was small (20 participants) and recruited from a single hospital setting. The perspectives of the adolescents themselves were not included.
Declared interests
No specific conflicts of interest or funding sources were explicitly detailed in the provided text, though the study was conducted at Sultan Qaboos University.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret these findings as evidence that specific nursing interventions reduce caregiver burden. This is a descriptive qualitative study of parents' experiences and perceptions, not a trial testing the efficacy of any treatment or support model.