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Relatives of patients with depression: experiences of everyday life
Author(s) -
SkundbergKletthagen Hege,
Wangensteen Sigrid,
HallLord Marie Louise,
Hedelin Birgitta
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of caring sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.678
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1471-6712
pISSN - 0283-9318
DOI - 10.1111/scs.12082
Subject(s) - ambivalence , descriptive research , everyday life , next of kin , depression (economics) , psychology , qualitative research , phenomenography , social psychology , medicine , nursing , sociology , social science , epistemology , philosophy , pedagogy , macroeconomics , archaeology , economics , history
The aim of this study was to describe experiences of everyday life as a relative of a person diagnosed with depression. A qualitative and descriptive design with a phenomenographic approach was chosen, and individual interviews with 24 relatives were carried out. Approval was given by the Regional Committee for Medical and Health Research Ethics, Norway (South East) ref 2010/126. The findings show the main category ‘Living on the other person's terms’, which may be expressed in terms of consideration for the next of kin, thus presenting a challenge and a need to be balanced against taking care of oneself. In addition, three descriptive categories emerged: ‘Ambivalent relationship’, ‘Adjusting daily life’ and ‘Managing the situation’. In conclusion, the relatives of persons with depression may be in danger of developing their own health problems and in need for attention from health personnel.