Family burden and coping in family caregivers of patientwith schizophrenia

Background: Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that is still being a stigma and causes a conflict in the family due to maladaptive behavior. Coping strategies are needed by the family members to dealing burden, so that they can care patients well. Purpose: This study aimed to determine the relationship between family burden and coping with the family ability of caring for patients with schizophrenia. Method: This study used a cross sectional approach. The population was a family of patients with schizophrenic in the Wijaya Kusuma room at Menur mental hospital. The number of samples was 21 respondents. The independent variable was family burden and coping. The dependent variable was the family ability of caring. Data were collected by questionnaires of demographic, family ability, family burden, and family coping. Data analysis used Spearman Rho correlation test with a significance level of α = 0.05. Results: The statistical results showed that family burden has a correlation with family ability (r = 0.656), while family coping has a very strong correlation with family ability (r = 0.868) with family integrity better than psychological status and communication. Conclusion: Family with a low burden did not necessarily have a good ability in caring for patient, but family with good coping will be able to provide good care for patient. Therefore, nurses are expected to develop methods to improve family coping in family caregivers of patient with schizophrenia.