Investigation of self concept in the young people of parents with bipolar disorder

The purpose of this study is to examine the self-concept of young people having parents with bipolar disorder. The study was conducted with 131 young people having parents with bipolar disorder. A Descriptive Information Form and the Self-concept Scale were applied to the young people participating in the study. While no significant difference was found between age, gender, educational status and family structure among socio-demographic characteristics of young people having parents with bipolar disorder and their self-concept mean scores, there was a significant difference between income level and self-concept mean scores. It was determined that the young people with higher income level obtained higher scores from self-concept scale compared to the young people with lower income level. Which parent suffered from this order, educational status and age of ill parent, diagnosis year of the disorder and number of years young people lived with ill parent did not affect self-concept mean scores of the young people having parents with bipolar disorder. However, the young people receiving support from their grandmother and grandfather apart from their parents during their upbringing period obtained higher scores from self-concept scale. When compared to samples including young people having parents with no disorder, it was observed that the young people having parents with bipolar disorder had a lower self-concept mean score. These young people need an expert support in order to enhance their self-concept positively. Related interventions of specialized psychiatric nurses as a member of mental health team would make positive contribution.