Dutch youth of parents with a mental illness reflect upon their feelings of guilt and shame. Issue 3 (27th May 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bosch, Annick; Riebschleger, Joanne; van Loon, Linda
• Is Part Of: International journal of mental health promotion. Volume 19:Issue 3(2017)
• Page Start: 159
• Page End: 172
• Publication Date: 2017-05-27
• Subjects: COPMI -- guilt -- shame -- parent-child relationship -- qualitative; Mental health promotion -- Periodicals; 362.205
• DOI: 10.1080/14623730.2017.1315955
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1462-3730

Abstract

Abstract: Children of parents with a mental illness (COPMI) have a higher risk of acquiring a mental illness themselves. Feelings of guilt and shame could increase COPMI risks of acquiring mental health disorder symptoms. These feelings of guilt and shame could also impact the quality of the parent-child relationship. Data were drawn from the qualitative part of a mixed method study featuring 18 face-to-face interviews with Dutch COPMI aged 12–21. Interviewees were asked about their experiences with guilt and shame related to their parent with mental illness and the extent they felt that these feelings affected their relationships with their parents. Qualitative thematic analysis (QTA) revealed that most COPMI youth described feelings of guilt and some of them reported feelings of shame. They reported making behavioral adjustments especially using caution in parental communication. In their perception, guilt and shame did not have long-term impacts on their relationships with parents.