An investigation of selected psychosocial influences on the resilience of families living with mental illness in Nyeri county, Kenya

Abstract

Numerous studies have demonstrated that family members living with a person with a mental illness suffer from significant stresses, experience moderately high levels of burden and often receive inadequate assistance from mental health professionals. The major objective of this study was to find out whether selected psychosocial influences; attitudes and perceptions of family members on mental illness as well as the social support systems have significant influences on the resilience of the families living with a mentally ill member in Nyeri County, Kenya. The study was guided by two theories; Hardiness theory of Resilience by Suzanne Kobasa(1979) and the Attribution theory by Fritz Heider(1958). This study adopted the Ex-post facto research design. The target population was the family members who live with and take care of 600 mentally ill relatives who had have visited the Nyeri County Referral hospital in the month preceding data collection. Yamane’s formula was applied to determine a sample size of 240 families who participated in the study. Ten close family members were purposively selected to take part in in-depth interviews, one family was selected for the biographical study, while the remaining 229 families were subjected to a questionnaire. The instruments were tried out in a pilot study, carried out in Laikipia County and adjustments made as was found necessary. Reliability of the instruments was determined using test-retest method and a reliability index of 0.751 was obtained, which was considered adequate. Validity was enhanced by building participant trust, spending enough time in the field as well as member checking in order to correct any errors of facts or interpretation for the qualitative data. The qualitative data was transcribed and analyzed by the researcher identifying patterns and themes, then comparing the different ideas in order to bring out underlying meanings and relationships. The quantitative data was analyzed using multi-linear regression to test the hypothesis, p=.05 significance level, with the aid of SPSS (Version 23). The results are presented in prose and also in tables. The study found that the aspects of perceptions and attitudes tested have a significant influence on the resilience of the family members who take care of their mentally ill members. It was also found that the social support these families received from both formal and informal sectors was inadequate and had a significant influence on their resilience. Interventions to alleviate the suffering of family members under this study were found to include; development of institutions where the mentally ill can be taken care of by trained staff, provision of free medical care and establishment of a scheme that supports the families financially. Based on the above findings, a model framework was developed and recommended for supporting the family members. It is recommended that continuous sensitization of the community members by the Ministry of health on mental illness be carried out to reduce stigma as well as the formation of support groups that would provide counseling and other services to those living with the mentally ill.