Abstract
The consequences and high costs of psychiatric disorders impact family caregivers greatly. Health services should identify and provide accessible support programs to facilitate effective caregiver coping. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a theory-of-planned-behavior-based problem-solving training program on the coping styles of family caregivers of psychiatric inpatients. In this two-group, randomized control trial, 72 family caregivers were randomly assigned to either a control group receiving standard care or an intervention group receiving a training program (eight sessions over 4 weeks). Demographic information was recorded at baseline, and the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations was administered to both groups at baseline, immediately postintervention, and 1-month follow-up. Immediately after the intervention, the intervention group earned significantly higher task-oriented coping style scores (mean difference = 5.03, p = .015) than the control group, but no significant difference was detected between the two groups for either emotion- or avoidance-oriented coping style scores. At 1-month follow-up, the intervention group earned significantly higher scores than the control group for task-oriented (mean difference = 8.56, p < .001) and emotion-oriented (mean difference = 7.14, p = .002) coping styles. No improvement in avoidance-oriented coping style at the postintervention or follow-up time points was detected. Implementation by nurses and other health professionals of problem-solving training programs that are based on the theory of planned behavior is recommended to strengthen the use of task- and emotion-oriented approaches that help family caregivers of psychiatric patients better cope with stress.
Highlights
A mental disorder is defined as “a clinically significant behavioral or psychological syndrome or pattern that occurs in an individual and that is associated with present distress or with a significantly increased risk of suffering death, pain, disability, or an important loss of freedom” (Paris & Phillips, 2013, p. 51)
Immediately after the intervention, the intervention group earned significantly higher task-oriented coping style scores than the control group, but no significant difference was detected between the two groups for either emotion- or avoidance-oriented coping style scores
There were a significant increase in the mean task-oriented coping style (TOCS) score of the intervention group immediately postintervention and no significant changes in the mean scores of the emotionoriented coping style (EOCS) and avoidance-oriented coping style (AOCS) immediately postintervention
Summary
A mental disorder is defined as “a clinically significant behavioral or psychological syndrome or pattern that occurs in an individual and that is associated with present distress or with a significantly increased risk of suffering death, pain, disability, or an important loss of freedom” (Paris & Phillips, 2013, p. 51). The consequences and high costs of psychiatric disorders, in terms of family caregivers, demand that health services identify and provide accessible support programs (Alavi, Irajpour, Abdoli, & Saberizafarghandi, 2012; Treichel et al, 2017). Studies show that family caregivers of close relatives with mental illnesses often experience distress, anxiety, and depression and face increased economic problems that require significant support and training to reduce the burden of care (Cleary, Freeman, Hunt, & Walter, 2005, 2006). Health services should identify and provide accessible support programs to facilitate effective caregiver coping. Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a theory-of-planned-behavior-based problem-solving training program on the coping styles of family caregivers of psychiatric inpatients
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
