The effect of motivational interview intervention for caregivers of individuals with severe mental disorders on psychological distress and coping attitudes

Ph.D. THESIS THE EFFECT OF MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEW INTERVENTION FOR CAREGIVERS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH SEVERE MENTAL DISORDERS ON PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS and COPING ATTITUDES Mehtap AKKOÇ Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa Institute of Graduate Studies Department of Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing, PHD Programme Supervisor : Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sevil YILMAZ Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a motivational interviewing intervention, applied to caregivers of individuals with severe mental disorders, on psychological distress and coping attitudes. Method: This research was conducted between August 2023 and December 2024 at a Community Mental Health Center affiliated with a district state hospital in Kocaeli, Turkey. Employing a randomized controlled experimental design with pre-test, post-test, and follow-up measurements, the sample consisted of 40 caregivers selected through power analysis from those registered at the Community Mental Health Center. Participants were randomly assigned to either the intervention group (n=20) or the control group (n=20). The intervention group received a 6-session individual motivational interviewing intervention aimed at improving caregivers' levels of depression, anxiety, stress, and coping strategies. The data collection process began with the completion of the "Patient Sociodemographic Information Form" and the "Caregiver Sociodemographic Information Form." To assess the levels of depression, anxiety, and stress among the participants, the "Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21)" was administered. Additionally, the "Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (COPE)" scale was used to measure the participants' coping attitudes. Results: There were no significant differences between the intervention and control groups in terms of sociodemographic characteristics and scale scores at baseline (p > 0.05). Following the motivational interviewing intervention, post-test scores of the experimental group showed significant improvements in the DASS-21 subscales for depression, anxiety, and stress compared to both the control group and their pre-test scores, with a high effect size (p < 0.05). Additionally, significant improvements were observed in the coping attitudes scale in the intervention group, specifically in the subscales of self-help, adjustment, and self-punishment. These differences were more pronounced when compared to the control group (p < 0.05). No significant changes were found in psychological distress or coping attitudes in the control group (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Individual motivational interviewing interventions were found to reduce psychological distress and enhance coping strategies in caregivers effectively. It is recommended that motivational interviewing techniques be more extensively incorporated into psychosocial support services. August 2025, 125 pages. Keywords: Caregiver, Coping, Motivational Interviewing, Psychological Distress