Ambivalence of mothers’ emotions in dealing with aggressive behavior from mentally ill adult children

Abstract

This study aims to explore the lived experience of mothers who are caregivers for mentally ill adult children displaying aggressive behavior. This study used a qualitative research design with an interpretative phenomenological approach to explore mothers’ experiences in facing aggressiveness from their adult children with mental disorders. Ten participants were recruited by using purposive sampling and data were collected through in-depth interviews. This study reveals two themes, namely emotional bonding as the trigger for an ambivalent response and the conflict between mothers’ love and hatred toward adult children with mental illness. The aggressiveness of people with mental illness causes emotional ambivalence among their mothers. This research may serve as reference material to develop nursing interventions focusing on caregivers who care for adult children with aggressiveness, especially helping them to adapt with their ambivalent responses.