Experiences of Parents of Children with Mental Illnesses: A Systematic Review and Meta-ethnographic Synthesis

Overview

Journal Fam Process

Specialties Psychology
Public Health
Social Sciences

Date 2024 Nov 24

PMID 39581628

Authors

Suzanna Greally

Jeppe Oute

Susan McPherson

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

In this paper, we present a qualitative meta-ethnographic synthesis of 26 articles reporting experiences of subjective burden in 389 parents of children with mental illnesses. The studies were identified through a systematic literature search of PubMed, CINAHL Ultimate, APA PsycInfo, and MedLine Ultimate. We conducted a quality appraisal and followed the seven stages of meta-ethnographic synthesis. We developed a line of argument synthesis in the form of a model that depicts the subjective, temporal, and psychological experiences of parents. The model proposes a cyclical process characterized by five stages, each depicting a transitional point in which parents re-evaluate their experiences: caring for an intimate stranger; turning point; unavoidable role; uncertain future; transcendence. This model highlights the complex psychological processes that parents endure when caring for a child with a mental illness. The review highlights several methodological issues in this field of research, including issues related to sampling, poor reporting of data analysis, limited critical appraisal, and a lack of reflexivity. Future research should address the gaps in the literature while also attending to the issues that have been highlighted by this review.

Citing Articles

Experiences of parents of children with mental illnesses: A systematic review and meta-ethnographic synthesis.

Greally S, Oute J, McPherson S Fam Process. 2024; 64(1):e13087.

PMID: 39581628 PMC: 11803131. DOI: 10.1111/famp.13087.

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