Volume 26, Issue 3 (Autumn-In Press 2025)
jrehab 2025, 26(3): 0-0 |
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Abbasi Asl M, Khanjani M S, Foroughan M, Azkhosh M, Moloodi R. Psychological Challenges of Family Caregivers of Older Adults Dependent on Daily Functioning: A Qualitative Study. jrehab 2025; 26 (3)
URL: http://rehabilitationj.uswr.ac.ir/article-1-3619-en.html
URL: http://rehabilitationj.uswr.ac.ir/article-1-3619-en.html
Mojtaba Abbasi Asl1 
, Mohammad Saeed Khanjani *2 , Mahshid Foroughan3 , Manouchehr Azkhosh4 , Reza Moloodi5
, Mohammad Saeed Khanjani *2 , Mahshid Foroughan3 , Manouchehr Azkhosh4 , Reza Moloodi5
1- Department of Counseling, Faculty of Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
2- Department of Counseling, Faculty of Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran. ,sa.khanjani@uswr.ac.ir
3- Iranian Research Center on Aging, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
4- Department of Counseling, Faculty of Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
5- Cognition and Behavior Counseling and Psychological Services Center, Tehran, Iran.
2- Department of Counseling, Faculty of Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran. ,
3- Iranian Research Center on Aging, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
4- Department of Counseling, Faculty of Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
5- Cognition and Behavior Counseling and Psychological Services Center, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract: (13 Views)
Objectives Family caregiving for older adults is a challenging and exhausting process that creates and exacerbates multiple psychological challenges. The aim of this study was to identify the psychological challenges of family caregivers of older adults’ dependent in daily functioning.
Materials & Method This qualitative study employed conventional content analysis. The participants included 14 individuals (11 women and 3 men) from the second branch of the Kahrizak Daily Rehabilitation Center and Zarman Comprehensive Rehabilitation Center. The samples were purposefully selected with maximum variation. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and continued until theoretical saturation was achieved. The interviews were analyzed using MAXQDA software (version 2020). For data analysis, the content analysis method of Graneheim and Lundman was used. Lincoln and Guba’s criteria for credibility, dependability, confirmability, and transferability were applied to ensure the trustworthiness of the findings.
Results Analysis of the data led to the identification of the psychological challenges of family caregivers of older adults. These challenges were categorized into 5 main themes and 17 subthemes: weakening of personal identity (setting aside personal interests, reduced sense of control over life, sacrifice of personal life and feelings of wasted life); deterioration of relationships and emotional bonds (loneliness and isolation, being excluded from relationships, and reduced motivation to form relationships); emotional stagnation (feeling downhearted, joyless life, boredom, and life's monotony); surrounded by worry (concern about caregiving responsibilities and accountability, concern for one’s future, and concern for aging); and deterioration of psychological capacity (emotional fragility, feeling overwhelmed, and care being difficult and exhausting).
Conclusion Family caregivers of older adults face various psychological challenges that, if neglected, can lead to burnout, decreased quality of life, feelings of failure, increased psychological stress, and a reduced ability to perform caregiving tasks. Therefore, addressing these challenges is crucial for promoting caregivers' mental health and improving the quality of care provided to older adults.
Materials & Method This qualitative study employed conventional content analysis. The participants included 14 individuals (11 women and 3 men) from the second branch of the Kahrizak Daily Rehabilitation Center and Zarman Comprehensive Rehabilitation Center. The samples were purposefully selected with maximum variation. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and continued until theoretical saturation was achieved. The interviews were analyzed using MAXQDA software (version 2020). For data analysis, the content analysis method of Graneheim and Lundman was used. Lincoln and Guba’s criteria for credibility, dependability, confirmability, and transferability were applied to ensure the trustworthiness of the findings.
Results Analysis of the data led to the identification of the psychological challenges of family caregivers of older adults. These challenges were categorized into 5 main themes and 17 subthemes: weakening of personal identity (setting aside personal interests, reduced sense of control over life, sacrifice of personal life and feelings of wasted life); deterioration of relationships and emotional bonds (loneliness and isolation, being excluded from relationships, and reduced motivation to form relationships); emotional stagnation (feeling downhearted, joyless life, boredom, and life's monotony); surrounded by worry (concern about caregiving responsibilities and accountability, concern for one’s future, and concern for aging); and deterioration of psychological capacity (emotional fragility, feeling overwhelmed, and care being difficult and exhausting).
Conclusion Family caregivers of older adults face various psychological challenges that, if neglected, can lead to burnout, decreased quality of life, feelings of failure, increased psychological stress, and a reduced ability to perform caregiving tasks. Therefore, addressing these challenges is crucial for promoting caregivers' mental health and improving the quality of care provided to older adults.
Type of Study: Original |
Subject:
Elderly Psychiatric
Received: 8/04/2025 | Accepted: 17/08/2025 | Published: 23/09/2025
Received: 8/04/2025 | Accepted: 17/08/2025 | Published: 23/09/2025
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This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC-By-NC), which permits use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes.
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