家庭照顧者的壓力源與因應行為──以一個支持團體為例

Stressors and Coping Behavior of Family Caregivers: The Example of a Support Group

本研究目的是探討家庭照顧者於支持團體過程中，表達在照顧情境中的壓力源與因應行為。研究對象為參與過照顧技巧訓練班之課程後，有意願參與支持團體的家庭照顧者共六位。團體領導人有豐富帶團體經驗之精神科護理師，每週進行一次，每次二至三小時，共六次。採焦點團體法，將團體進行過程中照顧者所表達出的語言及非語言行為加以記錄、整理、分析、歸類。研究結果顯示在壓力源有病患照顧、照顧者身、心、社交上及經濟等方面。在因應方面透過角色調整、尋求支持及資源的協助、堅定的信念、增進照顧知識及技巧、照顧者的健康促進及照煩工作的回饋等行為來面對照顧中的各種情境。

The aim of this research is to look at the implications of stress in family caregivers, and their management of stress within a support group. The family caregivers participating in this study attended a care skill-training program and agreed to participate in the support group. The group was conducted by a psychiatric nurse with a high level of experience in group therapy. A total of six participants participated in the entire six sessions, with each session taking about two to three hours. A “ focus group method” was utilized, which involved the observer organizing, analyzing and recording the caregivers' verbal and non-verbal behaviors in the supporting group context. The findings of this research show that stress can result from tension within a family, at work, or from the restraining influences of social tradition and financial difficulty. The ways that caregivers used to cope with the stress were to adapt to the new role of care giving, to seek support and helping resources, to learn how to take care of the patients, to promote their own health and listen to the feedback they receive from the caring process.