정신질환자 가족을 돌보는 청년의 일상생활 경험 (Daily Life Experiences of Young Adults Caregivers Caring for a Family Members with a Mental Illness)

서지정보

· 발행기관 : 연세대학교 사회복지연구소
· 수록지 정보 : 한국사회복지조사연구 / 82권 / 5 ~ 42페이지
· 저자명 : 박선희, 김서현

초록

본 연구는 정신질환자 가족을 돌보는 청년의 일상생활 경험을 심층적으로 탐구하고자 하였다.
이를 위해 연구참여자 3명을 대상으로 5회씩 심층 면담을 하였고, 자료 분석은 질적 사례연구방법을 활용하였다. 분석 결과, 13개 하위범주로부터 ‘정신질환 돌봄의 족쇄로 연결된 가족 간소통’, ‘고장 난 마음의 줄을 연주하는 불안한 돌봄 공간’, ‘심리적 균열 속 행복으로 포장된 자기위안에 허비하는 시간’, ‘평범한 일상에서 약점이 된 정신질환자 가족’, ‘무모하게나마 꿈꿔보는각자의 삶 살아갈 언젠가’의 5개 주제가 드러났다. 이를 요약하면, 연구참여자들은 가족돌봄을행하면서도 부적절한 대화로 가족관계가 소원했으며, 정신질환자 가족에 대한 편견 때문에 청년기안정적 발달을 이루지 못함이 밝혀졌다. 또한, 이들은 정신질환자 가족의 공공서비스 이용에 따른변화를 목격하며 돌봄의 무게를 조금이나마 덜 수 있었고, 현재는 비록 가족돌봄에 치우쳐진 삶이지만 미래에는 독립적인 인생을 살고 싶다고 희망함을 확인했다. 결론적으로, 연구결과를 바탕으로정신질환자 가족을 돌보는 청년에 대한 사회적 관심 증대를 비롯하여 이들이 돌보는 대상자별이질성에 기반해 지원할 방안 등을 제언하였다.

영어초록

This study aimed to conduct a profound investigation and examination of the daily life experiences of young adults caring for a family member with a mental illness. In-depth interviews were performed with three study participants for five sessions each, and the qualitative case study method was employed for data analysis. The analytical results identified the following five topics from among 13 subcategories: ‘family communication bound by the shackles of mental illness caregiving,’‘an anxious caregiving space, playing the faulty strings of the heart,’ ‘wasted time for self-consolation disguised as happiness amidst psychological fractures,’ ‘the mentally ill family member who has become a weakness in average days,’ and ‘recklessly dreaming of a someday when we can each live our own lives.’ In summary, the study participants reported not having close relationships due to poor communication among family members while they were caring for mentally ill relatives. They also indicated not experiencing stable developmental stages because they were faced with prejudices against their family member with a mental illness.
However, their caring burden was reduced to some degree when their family member with a mental illness changed as a result of using public services. Moreover, caregivers expressed the desire to live independently in the future although their current life was largely focused on caring for the family member with the mental illness. In conclusion, the study’s findings suggest the need for more public attention to young adults caring for family members with mental illnesses.
In conclusion, drawing on the research findings, this study advocates for heightened societal attention to young caregivers of family members with mental illness, alongside the development of targeted support strategies that account for the heterogeneity of the care recipients' needs.

참고자료

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