Positive Psychosocial Experiences in Caring for Patients with Chronic Mental Disorders: A Qualitative Content Analysis of Family Caregivers and Healthcare Professionals

Abstract

Introduction: The vital role of the family in providing physical and emotional support to a patient with a chronic mental disorder has caused the family to gain many psychosocial experiences. This study aimed to describe the positive psychosocial experiences of family caregivers and healthcare professionals in caring for patients with chronic mental disorders. Methods: The present qualitative study was conducted using a conventional content analysis approach. The participants in this research were 10 family caregivers of patients with chronic mental disorders, 3 psychiatrists, 5 nurses working in the psychiatric department, and 3 clinical psychologists in Farabi, Khorshid, and Modares hospitals in Isfahan, who were selected by purposive sampling. The number of family caregivers was determined based on the principle of data saturation, which is a standard practice in qualitative research. We continued interviews until no new themes or insights emerged, ensuring that the data collected were comprehensive and sufficient to address the research question. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews. In this research, the data were analyzed using the approach of Graneheim and Lundman. The accuracy and robustness of the data were also done using the Lincoln and Guba criteria. Results: A total of 236 primary codes were obtained, which were classified into 9 sub-categories and 4 main categories, including “personal growth and self-awareness”, “social and family relationships”, “emotional and psychological well-being”, and “care as a meaningful role”. Conclusion: Identifying the positive experiences of care in caregivers can provide a background for the development of various programs and studies to promote adaptation and ultimately increase the level of psychosocial health of family caregivers of patients with chronic mental disorders, and can lead to more emphasis by health policymakers on the strengths and support resources of these people. © 2026 The Author(s); Published by Kerman University of Medical Sciences.