The Effect of Mindfulness Level on Stress Perception in Caregivers of People with Schizophrenia

Öz

Aim: This research was conducted to examine the effect of mindfulness levels on stress perception in caregivers of people with schizophrenia. Method: The population of the cross-sectional and descriptive study was the caregivers of people with schizophrenia registered at the Community Mental Health Centre affiliated with a Training and Research Hospital in Istanbul. The sample included 114 caregivers of people with schizophrenia who volunteered to participate and met the inclusion criteria. Data was collected using a Personal Information Form, Mindful Attention Awareness Scale and Perceived Stress Scale and analysed using SPSS software package. Results: The average age of the caregivers who participated in the research was 48.90±13.39 years, 63.2% were women, 28.1% were mothers as a degree of closeness to the patient, 64% had an income less than their expenses, 40.4% had a caregiving period between 10-19 years, 56.1%. It was determined that 100,000 of them had a support person in their patient care, and 84.2% of them had other person(s) to whom they provided care. The total mean score of the caregivers of people with schizophrenia from the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale was 53.40±15.15, and their mean total score from the Perceived Stress Scale was 31.26±7.90. A statistically significant negative relationship was detected between the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale and the Perceived Stress Scale sub-dimensions of perceived lack of self-efficacy, perceived helplessness and Perceived Stress Scale-Total scores (p<0.001), indicating that perceived lack of self-efficacy, perceived helplessness, and perceived stress increased as mindfulness decreased in caregivers of people with schizophrenia. Conclusion: The research concluded that the caregivers of people with schizophrenia had moderate mindfulness and perceived stress levels. As mindfulness increases, perceived stress decreases. Guided by this study’s findings, mental health nurses can play an active role in improving caregivers’ mental health, increasing their awareness levels, using more constructive coping strategies in stressful situations, and developing healthy behaviours.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Mindfulness
• stress
• caregiver
• schizophrenia

Şizofreni Tanılı Bireylerin Bakım Vericilerinde Bilinçli Farkındalık Düzeyinin Stres Algısı Üzerine Etkisi

Öz

Amaç: Bu araştırma, şizofreni tanılı bireylerin bakım vericilerinde bilinçli farkındalık düzeyinin stres algısı üzerine etkisini incelemek amacıyla gerçekleştirilmiştir. Yöntem: Kesitsel ve tanımlayıcı tipte olan araştırmanın evrenini İstanbul ilinde bir Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesine bağlı Toplum Ruh Sağlığı Merkezi’ne kayıtlı şizofreni tanılı bireylerin bakım vericileri; örneklemini ise araştırmaya katılmaya gönüllü olan ve dahil edilme kriterlerini karşılayan 114 şizofreni tanılı bireyin bakım vericisi oluşturmuştur. Veriler; Kişisel Bilgi Formu, Bilinçli Farkındalık Ölçeği ve Algılanan Stres Ölçeği kullanılarak toplanmıştır. Elde edilen veriler SPSS adlı paket program kullanılarak analiz edilmiştir. Bulgular: Araştırmaya katılan bakım vericilerin yaş ortalamalarının 48,90±13,39 yıl, % 63,2’sinin kadın, %28,1’nin hastaya yakınlık derecesi olarak annesi, %64’ünün gelirinin giderinden az, %40,4’ünün bakım verme süresinin 10-19 yıl arası, %56,1’inin hasta bakımında destekçisinin olduğu, %84,2’sinin bakım verdiği başka kişi/kişiler olduğu saptanmıştır. Şizofreni tanılı bireylerin bakım vericilerinin Bilinçli Farkındalık Ölçeği toplam puan ortalaması 53,40±15,15; Algılanan Stres Ölçeği toplam puan ortalaması 31,26±7,90 olarak belirlenmiştir. Bilinçli Farkındalık Ölçeği ile Algılanan Stres Ölçeği alt boyutlarından yetersiz özyeterlik, stres/rahatsızlık algısı ve Algılanan Stres Ölçeği-Toplam puanları arasında negatif yönde istatistiksel olarak anlamlı ilişki tespit edilmiştir (p<0,001). Buna göre şizofreni tanılı bireylerin bakım vericilerinde bilinçli farkındalık azaldıkça, yetersiz özyeterlik, stres/rahatsızlık algısı ve algılanan stres düzeyinin arttığı tespit edilmiştir. Sonuç: Araştırma sonunda şizofreni tanılı bireylerin bakım vericilerinin bilinçli farkındalık ve algılanan stres düzeylerinin orta düzeyde olduğu sonucuna ulaşmıştır. Bilinçli farkındalık arttıkça algılanan stres azalmaktadır. Bu çalışmanın bulguları rehberliğinde ruh sağlığı hemşirelerinin, bakım vericilerin ruhsal sağlığının geliştirilmesi, farkındalık düzeylerinin yükseltilmesi, stresli durumlarda daha yapıcı başa çıkma stratejileri kullanabilmeleri ve sağlıklı davranışlar geliştirebilmeleri için aktif rol oynayabileceği düşünülmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Bilinçli farkındalık
• stres
• bakım verici
• şizofreni

Kaynakça

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