Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Title
Collegian
Volume
31
Issue
3
First Page
154
Last Page
164
Publisher
Elsevier
School
School of Nursing and Midwifery / School of Arts and Humanities
RAS ID
69822
Abstract
Background: With the high and growing prevalence of depression worldwide, there is an increasing number of families assuming the role of caregivers for family members with mental health conditions such as depression. Aim: The aim of this study was to explore how family members describe and perceive the experience of living well with a family member living with depression. Methods: Narrative inquiry was used to elicit stories from eight participants who lived with an adult family member diagnosed with depression. Narrative and thematic analysis were used. Findings: Participants described the experience of living well through the themes of ‘times of uncertainty, distress, change, adaptation, perseverance, endurance, hope, and healing.’ Discussion: This study found that participants needed to make substantial psychosocial adaptations and modification to roles, goals, and relationships that they described as necessary to live well. Living well was described as synonymous with ‘normal’ living when living with a family member living with depression. Depression was described as bringing disruption, change, adaptation, challenges, acceptance, gains, and hope. Although paradoxical in terms of societal understandings of living well, participants described their current state of being as an example of living well. Conclusion: The findings highlight the necessity for health professionals, mental health, and comprehensively trained nurses to adopt an integrated way of examining a family's dynamics. Attention ought to be given to strengths, and concerns in health and illness when supporting families, not just the person diagnosed with depression.
DOI
10.1016/j.colegn.2024.02.003
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Comments
Cole, A., Pooley, J. A., Kemp, V., & Whitehead, L. (2024). Family members’ experiences of ‘living well’with a family member with depression. Collegian, 31(3), 154-164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colegn.2024.02.003