Hope and psychological resilience in primary caregivers of patients with a chronic mental illness followed in a community mental health center

The aim of this study is to examine hope and psychological resilience in primary caregivers of patients with a chronic mental illness. The descriptive study was conducted on 297 caregivers in community mental health centers in Turkey. Data were collected using the Introductory Information Form, Dispositional Hope Scale and the Resilience Scale for Adults. Hope and psychological resilience of primary caregivers of patients with a chronic mental illness were moderate. To sociodemographic and caregiver characteristics; caregivers who are over 40 years old, lost his/her spouse, low education level, housewife or retired, unemployed, who evaluated their incomes low, mother, living in the same house with the patient, caring for ten years or more, caring for another patient and not getting help in care had lower hope and resilience levels. Compared to patients with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, caregivers of patients with schizophrenia had lower hope and psychological resilience levels. Primary caregivers of patients with a chronic mental illness should be supported in terms of hope and psychological resilience. •Caregivers of patients with a chronic mental illness need support in terms of hope and psychological resilience.•Hope and psychological resilience levels of caregivers of patients with a chronic mental illness are affected by demographic, economic, accommodation, length of care and receiving support.•Compared to patients with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, caregivers of patients with schizophrenia have higher hopelessness and lower psychological resilience.•Caregivers of patients with schizophrenia are more risky in terms of pathways thinking and planned future.