Unit:
Κατεύθυνση Σχολική Συμβουλευτική και ΚαθοδήγησηLibrary of the School of Education
Supervisors info:
Στέλιος Γεωργίου, Καθηγητής, Τμήμα Ψυχολογίας, Πανεπιστήμιο Κύπρου
Original Title:
Παιδιά γονιών με ψυχική διαταραχή: συναισθήματα ενοχής και ντροπής στην ενήλικη ζωή
Translated title:
Children of parents with mental disorders: emotions of guilt and shame in adult life
Summary:
Mental disorders are prevalent worldwide and affect the lives of both patients and their families. Especially when these disorders occur in parents, the impact on the emotional well-being of their children is crucial. Beyond the consequences of mental illness, both the mentally ill individuals and their children face the daily impact of the social stigma associated with mental disorders. This study, focusing on the adult life of children, examines the relationship between parental mental disorder and their emotional state. Specifically, the current work investigates whether and to what extent adults experience feelings of guilt and shame due to their parents' mental illness. The research involved 200 individuals aged 18 and above, who have at least one parent with a mental disorder and reside in Greece. The Guilt and Shame Questionnaire was used as a measurement tool to assess feelings of guilt and shame regarding parental mental disorder. The results indicated that feelings of guilt and shame are correlated, with shame being slightly more common in the overall sample. Additionally, a mild correlation was observed between parental mental disorder and the appearance of guilt and shame in adult children. Furthermore, minor differences were identified in the expression of guilt and shame based on the participants' place of upbringing. However, significant differences emerged in the expression of guilt and shame based on educational level. The findings of this study could contribute to the design and implementation of targeted interventions to confront the stigma surrounding mentally ill individuals and their social environment.
Main subject category:
Philosophy - Psychology
Keywords:
mental disorders, parental mental disorder, children, adult life, emotional state, guilt, shame
