Adaptation Of Thai Families With Mentally Ill Young People

This study, using a descriptive cross-sectional design, aimed to examine factors predicting adaptation of Thai families caring for young people with mental illnesses. The Resiliency Model of Family Stress, Adjustment and Adaptation was used to guide the study. A total of 237 family members of young people with mental illnesses were recruited from four Thai psychiatric hospitals. Participants completed a set of questionnaires, including the: Demographic Data Questionnaire; Thai Family Stress Inventory; Life Skills Profile-20; Chulalongkorn Family Inventory; Demands of Illness Inventory; Family Hardiness Index; and, Family Adaptation Scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and structural equation modeling.The results indicated family adaptation was associated with lower family stress, higher patient's life skills, greater family functioning, more positive family appraisal and higher family hardiness. Structural equation modeling fit indices that suggest family functioning and family appraisal of illness mediate the effect of family stress on family adaptation; thereby, suggesting family functioning and family appraisal of illness may ameliorate the effect of family stress on family adaptation. Family functioning also mediated the effect of patient's life skills on family adaptation, suggesting family functioning could reduce the effect of patient's life skills on family adaptation. In conclusion, the findings highlight the importance of family functioning and appraisal of illness in interventions aimed at reducing family stress and promoting family adaptation.