The Health and Well-Being of Black Mothers Who Care for Their Adult Children With Schizophrenia

This study compared the mental and physical health of two groups of black mothers aged 55 years and older: those who were providing care for their adult child with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder (N=30) and those who did not have a child with mental illness (N=263). The only demographic variable that was found to differ between the two groups was that the women who were providing care for their adult child with mental illness had more children than the women in the comparison group. Both groups of women had similar mental health status. However, the mothers who were providing care for their adult children with mental illness had higher rates of chronic health conditions, such as high blood pressure, arthritis, and eye problems.