Volume 26, Issue 3 (Autumn 2025)
jrehab 2025, 26(3): 398-421 |
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Abbasi Asl M, Khanjani M S, Foroughan M, Azkhosh M, Moloodi R. Psychological Challenges of Family Caregivers of Older Adults With Dependency in Activities of Daily Living in Iran: A Qualitative Study. jrehab 2025; 26 (3) :398-421
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 Azkhosh1 , Reza Moloodi4
, Mohammad Saeed Khanjani *2 , Mahshid Foroughan3 , Manouchehr Azkhosh1 , Reza Moloodi4
1- Department of Counseling, School of Behavioral Sciences, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
2- Department of Counseling, School of Behavioral Sciences, 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- Cognition and Behavior Counseling and Psychological Services Center, Tehran, Iran.
2- Department of Counseling, School of Behavioral Sciences, 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- Cognition and Behavior Counseling and Psychological Services Center, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract: (673 Views)
Objective Family caregiving for older adults is a challenging and exhausting process that is associated with multiple psychological challenges. This study aims to identify the psychological challenges of family caregivers of older adults with dependency in activities of daily living in Iran.
Materials & Methods This is a qualitative study using conventional content analysis. The participants were 14 family caregivers of older adults (11 women and 3 men) recruited purposefully from the second branch of the Kahrizak Daily Rehabilitation Center and Zarman Comprehensive Rehabilitation Center in Alborz Province. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and continued until theoretical saturation was achieved. The interviews were analyzed in MAXQDA software, version 2020. For data analysis, Graneheim and Lundman’s content analysis method was used. Lincoln and Guba’s criteria (credibility, dependability, confirmability, and transferability) were applied to ensure the trustworthiness of the findings.
Results Analysis of the data led to the identification of five main themes and 17 subthemes: Weakening of personal identity (neglect of personal interests, reduced sense of control over life, sacrifice of personal life and feelings of wasting the life), deterioration of relationships and emotional bonds (loneliness/isolation, being left out in relationships, and reduced motivation to form relationships), emotional stagnation (feeling discouraged, joyless life, boredom, and monotonous life), being surrounded by worries (concerns about accountability in care, concerns about the future, and concerns about aging), and deterioration of mental capacity (emotional fragility, feeling diluated, and exhausting nature of care).
Conclusion Family caregivers of older adults in Iran face various psychological challenges that, if neglected, can lead to decreased quality of life and reduced ability to perform caregiving tasks. Addressing these challenges is crucial for promoting caregivers’ mental health and improving the quality of care provided to older adults.
Materials & Methods This is a qualitative study using conventional content analysis. The participants were 14 family caregivers of older adults (11 women and 3 men) recruited purposefully from the second branch of the Kahrizak Daily Rehabilitation Center and Zarman Comprehensive Rehabilitation Center in Alborz Province. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and continued until theoretical saturation was achieved. The interviews were analyzed in MAXQDA software, version 2020. For data analysis, Graneheim and Lundman’s content analysis method was used. Lincoln and Guba’s criteria (credibility, dependability, confirmability, and transferability) were applied to ensure the trustworthiness of the findings.
Results Analysis of the data led to the identification of five main themes and 17 subthemes: Weakening of personal identity (neglect of personal interests, reduced sense of control over life, sacrifice of personal life and feelings of wasting the life), deterioration of relationships and emotional bonds (loneliness/isolation, being left out in relationships, and reduced motivation to form relationships), emotional stagnation (feeling discouraged, joyless life, boredom, and monotonous life), being surrounded by worries (concerns about accountability in care, concerns about the future, and concerns about aging), and deterioration of mental capacity (emotional fragility, feeling diluated, and exhausting nature of care).
Conclusion Family caregivers of older adults in Iran face various psychological challenges that, if neglected, can lead to decreased quality of life and reduced ability to perform caregiving tasks. 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: 1/10/2025
Received: 8/04/2025 | Accepted: 17/08/2025 | Published: 1/10/2025
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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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