CONCLUSION
The current study provides evidence that caregiving gains are a prevalent
experience among families caring for a relative with a schizophrenic
spectrum disorder. The effects of the different sources of social
support on facilitating the experiences of caregiving gains have also
been identified. In particular, mental health professionals’ information
sharing and collaborative interactions with families promote the
experience of caregiving gains. The help from other family members,
support groups, and the relative with mental illness also contributes to
this positive experience. Further empirical support on these findings is
needed, which will contribute to the recognition of the strengths possessed
by family members and the development of interventions to
enhance family members’ rewarding experiences in caregiving.
Fang-pei Chen, MSW, and Jan S. Greenberg, Ph.D. 433
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This research was supported by a grant from the National Institute of
Mental Health (R01 MH45988) to the second author. Preliminary
results of this study were presented at the 7th Annual Conference of
the Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) in Washington, DC,
on January 17, 2003.