A qualitative research study was conducted using in-depth phenomenology to answer the research question of interest in the proposed study, how do rural mothers who have an adult child with a psychiatric disability describe their caregiving experiences? Examining the experiences and factors contributing to choices, risks, effective coping and problem solving, and adaptation of mothers who are care providers to adult children with psychiatric disabilities is a salient rehabilitation issue. The potentially significant needs adult children may have throughout the life span can place a considerable burden on families, as they are the main support, and especially mothers, as about two thirds of family care comes from women (Gutierrez-Maldonado, Caqueo-Urizar, & Kavanagh, 2005). Women caregivers are at high risk for developing depressive disorders and experiencing a lower quality of life (Gutierrez-Maldonado et al., 2005; Zauszniewski, Bekhet, & Suresky, 2009). Along with community cultural factors such as values and expectations, and physical barriers such as lacking resources, mothers may become over stressed, depressed, and anxious, and they may experience loss of income, relationships and isolation. Such results can lead to their own medical and mental health concerns, make them unable to provide adequate care, and thus exacerbate the child's illness. A new model focusing on the influence of community and societal expectations was also introduced in this study. Information gathered from women caregivers was useful for better understanding the caregiving experiences of rural mothers who have an adult child with a psychiatric disability. Interviews were conducted with eight women who were mothers of adult children with a psychiatric disability. While women often explained their caregiving experiences in negative terms, they also grew in beneficial ways. Through their caregiving, women became more educated, assertive, advocates, developed enriched relationships with others, and developed purpose in their caregiving experiences. The support women received from support groups or religious affiliations may have bolstered their ability to provide care, develop meaning, and serve as motivation to continue providing care.Recommendations for rehabilitation and mental health professionals included the recognition and inclusion of family in the treatment process. Practitioners should assist the family to establish goals that focus on positive outcomes that make the family feel empowered, develop meaning in the caregiving experience, and to successfully adapt. Recommendations for researchers included the need for recognition of family experiences, benefits of support group involvement, women's perceptions of community and societal expectations, and how these perceptions influence caregivers and decisions they make. Additionally, there is limited research on what defines rural culture and its influence on choices women caregivers make. Future research should focus on the influence that culture has on the meaning and decision making process in caregiving. Research is also needed to examine caregiver support and benefits such as advocacy, empowerment and resiliency.
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