Suffering Experience of Primary Caregivers of People with Mental Disabilities in Community Dwellings / 정신간호학회지

ABSTRACT

Purpose@#The purpose of this study was to examine the suffering experienced by the primary caregiver of people with mental disabilities in community dwellings to explain the fundamental structure thereof. @*Methods@#The Giorgi’s phenomenological research methodology was used. Three male subjects and five female subjects participated in this study. The data were collected September-December, 2019 through in-depth individual interviews, and analysis based on the Giorgi’s method. @*Results@#Four clusters of themes were identified. They are: “Mental disability came as a burden of pain”, “Painful time from caring due to being mentally recoiled and being hurtful”, “My life is broken by illness”, and “Hope discovered in the midst of pain”. @*Conclusion@#The findings provide deeper understanding and insight into the suffering experienced by primary caregivers for people with mental disabilities in community dwellings. A comprehensive program encompassing psychological and social aspects must be developed to facilitate resolving the problem of the suffering experienced by the primary caregiver for people with mental disabilities.