Childhood experiences of individuals with parents with schizophrenia: A phenomenological study

Among mental illnesses, schizophrenia has an important place due to its complex nature. The life of children whose parents have schizophrenia changes in a multidimensional way, has negative effects on the social, physical and emotional development of the child, and this increases the risk of mental disorders in both childhood and adulthood. The phenomenological approach, which is a qualitative research design, was used to examine the childhood experiences of individuals whose research parents had schizophrenia. The sample of the study consisted of 26 participants who accepted to participate in the study and met the inclusion criteria. In the study, "Descriptive Characteristics Questionnaire" and "Semi-structured In-depth Individual Interview Form" prepared by the researchers were used to collect data. After the analysis of the data was completed, themes and sub-themes were created. After in-depth interviews, six themes and 31 sub-themes were determined as "Opinions about Schizophrenia, Growing up with a Schizophrenic Parent, Childhood Experiences, How I Coped, Unfinished Dreams, Reflections on Adulthood". As a result of this qualitative research, it was determined that the children whose parents had schizophrenia had childhood experiences with many physical, mental, economic and social difficulties such as neglect, abuse, depression, child labour, stigma and loneliness, and these difficulties were reflected in their adulthood. Key Words: Schizophrenia parent, childhood, experience.