Effect Of Patient Illness On Young Adult Family Members

Abstract

The full impact of disease on a patient’s life and on immediate family is often unseen or unknown. Salem State students were surveyed on how family members’ ailments make them feel emotionally and affect family relationships and home life. Results indicate that Salem State students with illness in their immediate family have close relationships with family members, feel negatively about familial illness and do not take on family responsibilities other than household chores. Support within the family is adequate for coping with illness, though outside support could be beneficial in the expression of fears and concerns or suppressing negative emotions associated with familial illness.