Level of Coping Patterns among Parents of Children and Adolescents with Mental Illness: A Cross - Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Parents of children and adolescents with mental illness frequently experience emotional, psychological, and social stressors that affect their coping capacity. Understanding these coping patterns is essential for developing effective support interventions. Objective: To assess the level of coping patterns among parents and to identify sociodemographic and associated factors influencing these coping patterns. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 120 parents of children and adolescents aged 7-17 years diagnosed with mental illnesses. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire incorporating sociodemographic characteristics and the Coping Health Inventory for Parents (CHIP). Data was analysed using SPSS version 20. Descriptive statistics, parametric and nonparametric tests, and multiple linear regression analyses was performed to determine associations and predictors of coping patterns. Results: Coping Pattern I (Family integration, Cooperation and an Optimistic definition of the situation) was rated as extremely helpful by 79.2% (n=95) of parents, Coping Pattern II (Maintaining social support, Self-esteem and psychological stability) was rated moderately helpful by 64.2% (n=77) of parents, while Coping Pattern III (Understanding the healthcare situation through communication with other parents and Consultation with the health care-team) showed mixed levels of helpfulness. 29.2% (n=35) of the participants thought that Coping Pattern III was extremely helpful, 43.3% (n=52) was moderately helpful, 27.5% (n=33) was minimally helpful for them. Parent age (P=.018), relationship to child (P=.004), marital status (P=.001; .004), educational qualification (P=.012; .001), family type (P=.045), child age (P=.012), number of children (P=.036), and child schooling status (P=.002) was significant predictors across different coping patterns. Conclusion: The findings of this study demonstrate that Coping Pattern I (family integration, cooperation, and an optimistic definition of the situation) constitute the most effective and frequently utilized coping strategy among parents of children and adolescents with mental illness in Bangladesh. This reflects the strong influence of collectivist family structures and cultural reliance on intra-family support in coping with long-term mental health challenges. Conversely, variations observed across Coping Pattern II (maintaining social support, self-esteem and psychological stability) and Coping Pattern III (understanding the health care situation through communication with other parents and consultation with the health care-team) indicate gaps in social support utilization and healthcare communication, particularly among mothers, low-income families, and parents with limited education. These results underscore the necessity of family-centred, culturally responsive mental health services that strengthen parental education, promote social support networks, and improve collaboration between families and healthcare professionals. Integrating structured caregiver support within occupational therapy and mental health services is essential to enhance parental resilience, optimize family functioning, and ultimately improve outcomes for children and adolescents with mental illness. Keywords: Parents, Coping Patterns, Child and Adolescents, Mental illness.