Domestic difficulties faced by women with a severe mental disorder: A qualitative study

Abstract

When the family is considered as a system, individuals with a severe mental disorder can be affected by all the processes and conditions in the family. Women with a severe mental disorder are also affected by many factors such as their place in the family and society, gender roles and gender inequality. In the study, the authors aimed to determine domestic difficulties faced by women diagnosed with a severe mental disorder who were followed in a Community Mental Health Center in a province in the west of Türkiye. The study was a descriptive qualitative research design. Women who were diagnosed with a severe mental disorder, who were followed by the for mentioned Community Mental Health Center and who met the inclusion criteria were included in the study. The data collected using the one-on-one interview method were analyzed with the content analysis method. After the analysis of the data, the following four main themes related to the difficulties experienced in the family by women with a severe mental disorder identified: domestic violence, being both a sick person and a caregiver, stigma and coping strategies. It was concluded that women individuals with a diagnosis of a severe mental disorder experienced not only mental disorder-related difficulties but also difficulties of being a woman in the society brought about by their gender roles.