Beyond the invisible. Young adult children of parents with mental illness: Exploring risks and resources

Objective: This study explored risk and resources of childrenof parents with mental illness (COPMI).Background: COPMI often face psychological distress andsetbacks in education, careers, and relationships. Theymay take on premature parental roles due to limited professionalsupport. Despite these challenges, there is scantliterature on coping strategies and resources.Method: This study of 40 young adult COPMI aimed to(a) explore risks like psychological distress and early caregivingresponsibilities (parentification), alongside resourcessuch as coping strategies and posttraumatic growth(PTG); (b) compare these factors between those with andwithout professional support; and (c) examine how parentificationand resources relate to psychological distress.Results: The findings indicated that parentification correlatedwith higher psychological distress, whereas PTG correlatedwith lower distress. Moreover, those withprofessional support showed higher PTG levels than thosewithout.Conclusion: This research underscores the unmet needs ofCOPMI, often overlooked by psychological services andliterature despite their complex caregiving roles and lifechallenges.Implications: This study shed light on the characteristics ofthe intervention provided for this population, highlightingthe critical need for tailored support systems that not only address psychological distress but also foster resilience andgrowth.