An Emotional Awareness Based Parenting Group for Parents with Mental Illness: A Mixed Methods Feasibility Study of Community Mental Health Nurse Facilitation

Arch Psychiatr Nurs. 2016 Feb;30(1):35-40. doi: 10.1016/j.apnu.2015.10.007. Epub 2015 Oct 21.

Abstract

There has been limited examination of the use of relationship based structured parenting programs that focus on emotional interactions in the parent-child dyad in families where a parent has a mental illness. There is also a lack of awareness of the practicalities of providing such interventions within adult mental health services. This study explores the process and outcomes of a nurse led emotional awareness based parenting program for adult clients of a mental health service. Participants demonstrated a significant reduction in difficult parenting moments and associated stress and distress as well as promising improvements in overall distress and emotional awareness.

MeSH terms

  • Community Mental Health Services*
  • Emotional Intelligence*
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Humans
  • Mental Disorders / psychology
  • Mental Disorders / therapy*
  • Parent-Child Relations
  • Parenting / psychology*
  • Psychiatric Nursing*