The experience of growing up with a parent with schizophrenia : a qualitative study

In this study, we investigated the subjective experiences of 6 individuals from Spain who grew up with a parent with schizophrenia. Our objectives were to explore participants’ perceptions of the effects of these experiences upon their development and their sense of continuing impact upon their adult lives and relationships. Our approach was guided by interpretative phenomenological analysis and data collection involved in-depth interviews with participants. Three themes were generated: role change and loss, prison of silence, and “Who am I?”. The findings highlighted the stigma of schizophrenia in society, a lack of support, emotional deprivation in childhood, and lasting negative effects for these participants upon their world view.