“I am secretary, therapist, maid, nurse”: A qualitative exploration of lived experiences of caring for a family member with a BPD diagnosis

Murray, Romany; Clarke, Victoria; Flothmann, Charlotte

Abstract

Background: Informal caring is an increasingly common phenomenon. Experiences of mental health caring are not well-researched, and few studies focus on experiences of family carers supporting individuals with a Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) diagnosis.
Aims: This research explores lived experiences of people in caring roles for family members diagnosed with BPD.
Methods: Seventy-two participants who identified as carers to a loved one diagnosed with BPD completed an online qualitative survey. Six of these participants took part in follow-up interviews, and three completed a follow-up survey. Survey responses and interviews were compiled and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.
Results: Two main themes were developed. ‘Labour of Love’ involved experiences of burden and strain, and ‘Self as Secondary’ incorporated feeling unheard and obliged to censor one’s own behaviours.
Conclusions: Overall, this research broadens awareness of how a mental health diagnosis and a diagnosis of BPD specifically can have a broader, systemic impact on not only the individuals diagnosed, but their families and those providing support to them, and suggests that provision of support by healthcare providers to carers is necessary.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 25, 2025
• Deposit Date: Mar 12, 2025
• Print ISSN: 0963-8237
• Electronic ISSN: 1360-0567
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09638237.2025.2460124
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/13935788