Social Support required for Children of Mothers with Schizophrenia: An Analysis of Interviews with Children in Adulthood

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the types of social support (SS) required for children whose mothers have schizophrenia, focusing on four dimensions: informational, instrumental, evaluative, and emotional. A qualitative synthesis of interviews with adults who had early carer experiences in childhood revealed that challenges such as “enduring unsolvable situations” and “self-sacrificing to support their mothers” stemmed from inadequate SS. Informational SS involves access to accurate information about schizophrenia, available social resources, and improved competence among supporters. Instrumental SS includes comprehensive life support, including home nursing, household assistance, and financial aid, along with systemic improvements in community and government services and collaboration with schools. Evaluative and emotional SS on “interactions with understanding individuals” that help enhance self-esteem and provide safe spaces for children to reinterpret their past ― leading to the realization that “they do not have to support their mothers alone.” These findings underscore the need to build comprehensive ongoing support systems tailored to individual needs. Further research is required to explore the transformative experiences of children who choose to share stories about their mothers.