Coping Strategies Among Family Caregivers of Patients with Chronic Mental Disorders: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: It is widely acknowledged that family caregivers of patients with chronic mental disorders face numerous challenges that can jeopardize their mental well-being. Therefore, the adoption of effective coping strategies can equip them to navigate the difficult and stressful situations encountered in their daily lives. Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to assess the coping strategies employed by family caregivers of patients with chronic mental disorders who were receiving care at psychiatric centers in Isfahan, Iran. Methods: This descriptive-analytical study involved 188 family caregivers of individuals with mental disorders selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected using a demographic characteristics form and the Endler and Parker Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations – Short Form (CISS-SF). The relationship between demographic variables and coping strategy scores was analyzed using independent t-tests, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Pearson and Spearman correlation tests in SPSS v. 20. Results: The results revealed that 55.1% of family caregivers utilized emotion-oriented coping strategies, 30.3% employed problem-solving coping strategies, and 14.6% adopted avoidance coping strategies. Furthermore, there was no significant relationship between the types of coping strategies and any of the demographic variables (P > 0.05). Conclusions: Given the findings of this study, which suggest that family caregivers tend to use ineffective coping strategies, it is imperative to implement preventive and psychological interventions aimed at enhancing the utilization of problem-oriented coping strategies within this group.