Resilience in children of parents with mental illness: Relations between mental health literacy, social connectedness and coping, and both adjustment and caregiving

Abstract

This study investigated the relationships between resilience factors (mental health literacy, social connectedness, coping strategies) frequently targeted in interventions, and both adjustment (depressive symptomatology, life satisfaction, prosocial behaviour, emotional/behavioural difficulties) and caregiving outcomes in children (12 – 17 years) of a parent with mental illness. Forty-four participants completed questionnaires. Correlations showed weak support for the predicted beneficial associations of mental health literacy with caregiving and adjustment, stronger support for the beneficial relationships between social connectedness and adjustment, and strong support for the adverse links of disengagement and involuntary coping strategies with adjustment and caregiving. Findings suggest that some resilience factors have a differential impact on adjustment and caregiving, and support the focus of interventions on modifying resilience factors.

Keywords:

• parental mental illness
• young carers
• resilience
• adjustment
• children
• adolescents

Acknowledgements

We thank Denisse Best, Shirley Anastasi, Thy Meddick, and Child and Youth Mental Health Service, within the Royal Children's Hospital & Health Service District of Queensland Health, for their support of this research, and the young people who participated in this study.

Notes

1. The abbreviation ‘COPMI’ is used for ease of expression; however, it should not be confused with the organisation (COPMI) that has the same acronym.