The aim of this study was to examine strategies carers use to cope with the burden of caring for a young person with first episode psychosis (FEP). This study was part of a RCT focusing on the effectiveness of a bibliotherapy intervention for carers of FEP patients, in terms of reducing burden and psychological distress. Baseline data on the 28-item Ways of Coping (MacCarthy & Brown, 1989) scale was available for 124 carers aged from 18-66 years. Principal axis factoring with olbimin rotation was used to determine the number of factors that could be used to characterize carer’s coping strategies. Correlational and regression analyses were used to determine how the factors related to carers’ demographics, burden, psychological well-being and expressed emotion (EE).
The factor analysis yielded three factors: (1) maladaptive coping; (2) adaptive problem solving; and (3) positive re-appraisal. These factors accounted for 20.5%, 11.8%, 5.5% of the variance respectively. The relationship between these three factors and demographic characteristics, carer burden, EE, and psychological distress will be discussed. Maladaptive coping strategies can be related to psychological distress, EE, and carer burden. Interventions that facilitate the use of adaptive problem-solving and positive reappraisal will minimise carer burden and reduce psychological distress.