Posttraumatic Growth and Self-Efficacy among Caregivers of Patients with Schizophrenia

Background: Caring for patients with schizophrenia can be a traumatic experience for caregivers. The negative impacts of this experience have been widely assessed. However, the data about self-efficacy and posttraumatic growth of caregivers are limited. Aim: Investigate the relation between posttraumatic growth, and self-efficacy among caregivers of patients with schizophrenia. Subjects and methods: Design: A descriptive correlational research design was applied. The study subjects comprised 143 caregivers of patients with schizophrenia who presented at the outpatient clinic for follow-up, recruited from Port Said Psychiatric Health and Addiction Treatment Hospital. Tools: Data were collected using two validated tools: the General Self-Efficacy Scale, the Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory, and a Personal and Characteristic Data Sheet, which was used to collect demographic information about caregivers. Results: Nearly three-quarters of caregivers reported a high degree of post-traumatic growth, while less than half of them had a high degree of general self-efficacy. Conclusion: There was a positive relation between the total scores of caregivers’ posttraumatic growth and their general self-efficacy. Recommendations: Designing and implementing counseling programs based on caregivers' experiences and needs. These programs should enhance knowledge about resilience, managing stress, efficient coping strategies, and social support. Promoting post-traumatic growth and self-efficacy among caregivers of patients with schizophrenia can lead to meaningful improvements in the quality of care provided to patients with schizophrenia.