Thesis (M.A.)--Western Washington University, 2008.

Thesis (M. Soc. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2003.

Thesis (M. Soc. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2003. / Also available in print.

Thesis (M.S.W.)--Smith College School for Social Work, Northampton, Mass., 2008. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 92-94).

published_or_final_version / Mental Health / Master / Master of Social Sciences

Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / Bibliography. Also available via the Internet.

M.Cur. (Nursing Science) / People play a major role in each other’s lives and this is because they rely on one another for survival. Many studies have been done on families and how they experience having persons challenged with mental illness but little has been done on couples and how they experience a relationship where one is challenged with mental illness or on the facilitation of the mental health of couples in a relationship where one is challenged with mental illness. The purpose of this study is to explore and describe the lived experience of couples in a relationship where one is challenged with mental illness in order to describe guidelines to facilitate the mental health of the couples. A qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual research design was utilised. The research was done in two phases. Phase one focused on an exploration of the lived experiences of couples in a relationship where one is challenged with mental illness. Phase two focused on guidelines to facilitate the mental health of the couples as a framework for the advanced psychiatric nurse practitioner. Purposive sampling was employed in selecting participants for the research study. The criteria were set out to be: couples in a relationship where one is challenged with mental illness with the willingness to participate and above the age of eighteen years. Phenomenological interviews were conducted and field notes gathered. Tesch’s method of data analysis was applied to analyse the data. Themes and categories were identified and a consensus was reached with the independent coder. Measures to ensure trustworthiness were considered and the criteria for ensuring rigour included truth value, applicability, consistency and neutrality. Ethical principles were also adhered to and those included: autonomy, non-maleficence, beneficence and justice to protect the human participants. Findings have shown that both partners in a relationship where one is challenged with mental illness, experience challenges in the relationship. They experience the relationship as different to what it was before there was mental illness. The couples experience a change in their social roles, as the partner with mental illness cannot work, provide, or fulfil his or her role in the relationship. The partner without mental illness carries more responsibility than before because of the demands which the mental illness imposes in the relationship. There is also emotional upheaval experienced by both partners because being in the relationship for both of them is overwhelming. They also experience interpersonal distance linked to unhealthy relational patterns characterised by constant fights and drifting apart. The couples also experience a changed relationship with the self, and financial challenges as the mental illness cost them a great deal. The partners with mental illness experience rejection and feel undeserving of spousal support, whereas the partners without mental illness experience a burden due to the increased responsibility that they have to assume and that is both socioeconomic and household roles. Guidelines based on the findings as described by the couples were described in Chapter Four in order to facilitate the mental health of couples in a relationship where one is challenged with mental illness. Recommendations for mental health nursing practice, mental health nursing education and mental health nursing research were made. The study was evaluated and limitations were outlined.

Lam, Yin Hung. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 89-97). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / ABSTRACT --- p.iii / 摘要(ABSTRACT IN CHINESE) --- p.iv / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.v / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.vi / TlST OF TABLES --- p.viii / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.ix / LIST OF APPENDIX --- p.x / Chapter CHAPTER I: --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS --- p.1 / EXPRESSED EMOTION & RELAPSE OF PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS --- p.2 / POSITIVE EXPRESSED EMOTION COMPONENTS --- p.3 / ASSESSMENT TOOLS OF EXPRESSED EMOTION --- p.5 / CULTURAL CONSIDERATIONS OF EXPRESSED EMOTION --- p.7 / PSYCHOSOCIAL WELL-BEING OF PPD --- p.10 / RECOVERY: EMPOWERMENT & LIFE SATISFACTION --- p.11 / EMPOWERMENT --- p.13 / LIFE SATISFACTION --- p.14 / PSYCHOSOCIAL WELL-BEING OF RELATIVES --- p.14 / AIMS OF STUDY --- p.15 / HYPOTHESES OF STUDY --- p.16 / Chapter CHAPTER II: --- METHOD --- p.17 / PARTICIPANTS --- p.17 / MEASURES --- p.21 / PROCEDURE --- p.33 / Chapter CHAPTER III: --- RESULTS --- p.33 / INTER-RATER RELIABILITY OF FMSS CATEGORIZATIONS --- p.33 / NEGATIVE AND POSITIVE EE SCORES --- p.34 / RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OVERALL EE AND SUB-EE --- p.36 / RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FMSS AND SELF-REPORT MEASURES --- p.38 / "RELATIONSHIP BEWTEEN DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS, SELF-REPORT EE AND OUTCOME VARIABLES" --- p.39 / RELATIVES' EE: BREAKDOWN BY DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS --- p.43 / COVARIATES RELATED TO PPD´بS LIFE SATISFACTION CONTROLLED FOR --- p.47 / RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RELATIVES´ة EXPRESSED EMOTION AND PSYCHOSOCIAL WELL-BEING OF RELATIVES AND PPD --- p.49 / PROPOSED MODEL (MODEL 1): SELF-REPORT AND FMSS --- p.49 / REFINED MODEL (MODEL 2): SELF-REPORT AND FMSS --- p.52 / FINAL MODEL (MODEL 3 A): SELF-REPORT AND FMSS --- p.56 / ALTERNATIVE MODEL (MODEL 3B): SELF-REPORT AND FMSS --- p.61 / Chapter CHAPTER IV: --- DISCUSSION --- p.67 / EXPRESSED EMOTION --- p.68 / SCORING SCHEME FOR EE --- p.68 / FMSS EE CATEGORIZATION --- p.68 / FMSS & SELF-REPORT OVERALL & SUB-EE --- p.69 / RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FMSS & SELF-REPORT EE --- p.71 / "RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DEMOGRAPHICS, SELF-REPORT EE & OUTCOME VARIABLES" --- p.71 / COVARIATES RELATED TO PPD，S LIFE SATISFACTION --- p.73 / "RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RELATIVES, EE AND PSYCHOSOCIAL WELL-BEING OF RELATIVES & PPD" --- p.74 / OVERALL COMPARISON BETWEEN FMSS & SELF-REPORT MODELS --- p.78 / IMPLICATIONS --- p.79 / LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY AND FUTURE DIRECTION --- p.82 / REFERENCES --- p.89

No abstract available. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.

Thesis (MA (Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / The primary aim of this study was to identify the characteristics and resources that families possess that enable them to adapt successfully, and as such, be resilient despite the presence of an autistic child in the family. The study was rooted within the contextual framework of the Resilience Model of Adjustment and Adaptation of McCubbin, Thompson and McCubbin (1996). Self-report questionnaires were completed by the parents of 34 families whose children attend either the Alpha School for Autistic Learners, the Vera School for Autistic Learners, or the Special Needs Adapted Programme. The self-report questionnaires were based on the Resilience Model of Adjustment and Adaptation. In addition, families were required to complete a biographical questionnaire and an open-ended question relating to their experience of factors relating to adaptation. The results pointed towards the importance of resilience factors in adaptation. The most significant resilience factors identified in this study include higher socioeconomic status; social support; open and predictable patterns of communication; supportive family environment, including commitment and flexibility; family hardiness; internal and external coping strategies; a positive outlook; and family belief systems. The clinical utility of the study in facilitating adaptation lies in its ability to provide parents with confirmation of the value of their efforts to improve the quality of life of their autistic child, as well as the family, and in providing all those involved in helping the autistic child, albeit parents or professionals, with insight into ways of creating a family environment, which will enhance the well-being of the autistic child, without detriment to the total family system. Family resilience theory provides a relevant framework within which the process of adapting to an autistic child can be considered. By applying these theories to their specific crisis situation, families of autistic children can work towards identifying, as well as implementing those factors which will lead to better adaptation, and thus increased resilience.