Rewards and Positive Aspects of Caregiving in Schizophrenia: Perceptions of Family Caregivers (A Study from India).

Objectives: This study seeks to assess the caregiving experience of primary caregivers of people with schizophrenia. Variables of interest included perceived positive aspects of caring, rewards, hope and life satisfaction.

Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted at Thanjavur Medical College Hospital in India with a sample of 75 family caregivers of people diagnosed with schizophrenia, who constituted the study group (SG). Standardised instruments to assess the key variables of the study were administered. These instruments were also administered to a reference group (RG) of 75 carers of people with minor physical ailments, in order to enable comparisons between groups. Data were analysed using appropriate statistical procedures.

Results: Data analyses revealed significant statistical differences in terms of hope, perceived rewards and positive aspects of caregiving between both respondent groups, with the SG obtaining lower mean scores on these dimensions. Life satisfaction scores though not statistically significant were also lower in SG respondents. Correlation coefficients established statistically significant negative relationships between hope scores and perceived rewards and with the perception of positive aspects relating to caregiving. Regression analysis extracted both perceived rewards and positive aspects as significant contributors to the manifestation of hope in the caregivers of the SG.

Conclusions: Our findings highlight the need and importance of appropriate psycho-social intervention to be provided for family caregivers to enhance their perception of positive aspects and increase hope and life satisfaction in relation to their caregiving function.