Mindfulness-Based Education for Caregivers of Individuals Diagnosis With Schizophrenia

The research is carried out by PhD student Azize Gözde Atakoğlu under the supervision of Associate Professor Gülcan Kendirkıran.

This study was conducted with a randomized control group, experimental research design in order to determine the effects of mindfulness-based training on stress perception and well-being in caregivers of individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia. The research data were collected at the Community Mental Health Center affiliated with a Training and Research Hospital in Istanbul between 15 September 2022 and 1 February 2023. Before commencing the study, an ethical approval decision was obtained from the Haliç University Non-Interventional Clinical Research Ethics Committee (May 25, 2022-90). Subsequently, an institutional permit for the study (June 28, 2022-637) was obtained from the Istanbul Provincial Health Directorate Bakırköy Prof. Dr. Mazhar Osman Mental Health and Neurological Diseases Training and Research Hospital, along with the ethics committee approval. The sample of the study consisted of caregivers of individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia, 15 in the intervention group, 15 in the psychoeducation group, and 30 in the control group (n=60). The study data were collected using the Personal Information Form, Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Psychological Well-Being Scale (PWS), Participant Experience Form (PEF), Post-Experience Stress Assessment Questionnaire (PSSQ), and Home Application Note Form. Frequency tables and descriptive statistics were used in the interpretation of the findings. For measurement values suitable for normal distribution, "ANOVA" test (F-table value), "Repeated Measures" test (F-table value), for measurement values not suitable for normal distribution, Kruskal-Wallis H" test (χ2-table value), "Friedman" test (χ2-table value) method was used. "Pearson-χ2" was used to examine the relationships between two qualitative variables, and "Spearman" correlation coefficient was used to examine the relationships between two quantitative variables not having normal distribution. As a result of this study, it was found that mindfulness-based intervention reduced stress in caregivers and contributed to psychological well-being (p<0.05). In addition, it was observed that the effect continued even though it decreased in follow-up tests. In this direction, it is recommended that follow-up tests be kept longer and intermediate interventions be added in other studies to be conducted. It is also recommended that qualitative studies be conducted on this subject in order to obtain detailed feedback on the processes related to the initiatives.