Expectation Management Among Family Caregivers of Youth with Substance Use Disorders in Zambia.
Background: Research has established that family caregiving roles are shaped through interaction and depend on social and contextual factors. Caregivers of youth struggling with substance use disorders (SUDs) face a complex web of expectations and challenges as they navigate their youth's journey towards recovery. On one hand, they must contend with societal pressures and misconceptions about SUDs, which is characterized by stigma, blame, and a lack of understanding. On the other hand, they are often expected to be the primary source of discipline, support and care, ensure their young adult recovers, secure the emotional well-being and safety of their family and community members.
Methods: This qualitative study used semi-structured in-depth interviews, participant observations, and a caregiving timeline with 30 family caregivers of youth with substance use disorders to get their subjective lived experiences.
Findings: Balancing these community expectations with the realities of their youth's SUD recovery trajectory was a daunting task and dilemmatic experience for many unsupported family caregivers. Community members often reprimanded most family caregivers for their youth's unresolved SUDs and disruptive behaviors. Over time, most caregivers developed resilience and became acclimatized to their caregiving situation, albeit with the expressed need for more financial, emotional, and practical support.
Implications for policy and practice: These findings underscore the need to promote caregivers' psychological resilience and reduce stress and burnout. Doing this will help family caregivers provide quality care to their youth and help them live meaningful lives in their communities as they manage daily care. Sensitization campaigns and stigma-combating strategies are imperative in working towards a more supportive and compassionate community that promotes the well-being of SUD caregivers, the affected youth, and other family members. This would help community members to gain new insight into the causes, symptoms, treatment options, and the chronic and relapsing nature of SUD recovery.