Developmental experience of adolescent daughters of institutionalized and non-institutionalized schizophrenic mothers in Kerala, India: A qualitative case study

• Main Author: Lukose, Lizy, Sr.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2017
• Subjects: Schizophrenia > Case studies; Mothers; Daughters; Counseling Psychology; Counselor Education
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_doctoral/510
• Institution: De La Salle University

The study looked into the impact of maternal schizophrenia on the successful resolutions of the developmental tasks of adolescent daughters in India. It sought to compare the developmental experiences of participants whose mothers are institutionalized and those that are not institutionalized. This study utilized Havighursts Developmental Task theory in exploring challenges and coping strategies involved in the developmental experience of the participants. Using a case study approach, ten daughters of institutionalized mothers and ten daughters of non-institutionalized mothers between 12-19 years old were interviewed. Results show that most of the participants had debilitating experiences of deprivation, social stigma, restrictive environment, and isolation resulting to internalized behaviors such as anxiety, avoidance, disillusionment, and a sense of rejection among others. The participants adopted both positive and negative strategies to cope with the difficulties in their everyday life with the support and care from others. Results were discussed in the light of the challenges faced by the adolescent girls in the accomplishment of their developmental tasks. The study revealed the importance of a strong social support group to help them handle their challenges, especially in fulfilling their developmental needs as adolescents.