Families’ lived experience in supporting a relative with schizophrenia: A phenomenological study

Introduction: Schizophrenia is a severe psychiatric disorder, often associated with social stigma, affecting approximately 1% of the French population. The development of community-based care has increased the responsibilities of families, including their role as caregivers, which is essential to recovery but exposes them to emotional, social, and material burdens.

Aim: To explore the experiences of families supporting a relative living with schizophrenia, with a view to understanding their experiences, the resources they use, and the obstacles they encounter. Method: A qualitative interpretive phenomenological study was conducted with five people supporting a relative with schizophrenia, recruited in collaboration with the French National Union of Friends and Families of People with Mental Illness (UNAFAM). Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using thematic coding and phenomenological interpretation. Results: Four themes emerged from the analysis: isolation and processes of stigmatization reflecting both social and identity disruption; a substantial emotional and material burden, characterized by feelings of guilt and exhaustion; resistance strategies developed by families, grounded in the maintenance of hope and the mobilization of familial and community resources; and the ambivalent nature of support systems, oscillating between recognition of the caregiver role and unmet expectations. Conclusion: The experiences of caregivers reveal a complex reality, situated between suffering and resilience. Recognizing families as partners is essential to reducing the care burden and supporting recovery. Advanced practice nurses play a key role in assessment, psychoeducation, coordination, and the development of partnership-based approaches.