IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/sae/socpsy/v69y2023i2p438-446.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

‘I feel hopeless’: Exploring the psychosocial impacts of caring for mentally ill relatives in Cambodia

Author

Listed:
  • Bunna Phoeun
  • Leang Chanthorn
  • Lena Schulhofer
  • Sareth Khann
  • Thea Soung
  • Kevin Conroy
  • Amanda J. Nguyen

Abstract

Background: There is growing recognition of the psychosocial burden of caregiving on relative caregivers of the mentally ill in low-and middle-income countries. Yet there remains limited formal research examining the challenges and psychosocial support needs of these relative caregivers, particularly with sensitivity to understanding caregiver experiences across diverse cultures and contexts. The purpose of this study was to study caregiver burden to inform potential intervention approaches among relative caregivers of treatment-engaged mentally ill patients in Cambodia. Methods: Participants were all relative caregivers identified through their connection to a non-governmental organization providing psychiatric care. Five focus group discussions were held with 37 participants to explore challenges experienced by relative caregivers. A total of 115 caregivers then completed a mental health assessment consisting of the Patient Health Questionnaire – 9 item scale, Generalized Anxiety Disorder – 7-item scale, and 21-item Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale. Internal consistencies ranged from α = .81 to .87 across scales. Results: Five themes emerged from the focus group discussions: financial burden, erratic behavior of patients, social alienation, somatic and emotional symptoms, and barriers to help-seeking. Assessment data indicated the sample was highly symptomatic. Women and those with no employment appeared to be at higher risk of distress, as were those caregivers with a biological relationship to the patient (parents, children, and siblings; relative to spouses or other relationships). Discussion: Findings suggest a need for regular screening and greater psychosocial support for relative caregivers. It is notable that the needs identified within the current study remain prominent even as this is a treatment-engaged sample.

Suggested Citation

  • Bunna Phoeun & Leang Chanthorn & Lena Schulhofer & Sareth Khann & Thea Soung & Kevin Conroy & Amanda J. Nguyen, 2023. "‘I feel hopeless’: Exploring the psychosocial impacts of caring for mentally ill relatives in Cambodia," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 69(2), pages 438-446, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:69:y:2023:i:2:p:438-446
    DOI: 10.1177/00207640221109171
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00207640221109171
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1177/00207640221109171?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Xavier Coton & Sin Poly & Philippe Hoyois & Chhit Sophal & Vincent Dubois, 2008. "The Healthcare-Seeking Behaviour of Schizophrenic Patients in Cambodia," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 54(4), pages 328-337, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Gila Schnitzer & Gerrit Loots & Valentin Escudero & Isaac Schechter, 2011. "Negotiating the Pathways Into Care in a Globalizing World: Help-Seeking Behaviour of Ultra-Orthodox Jewish Parents," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 57(2), pages 153-165, March.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:69:y:2023:i:2:p:438-446. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: SAGE Publications (email available below). General contact details of provider: .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.