Search

Objective: This study investigated the mediating roles of self-esteem and self-efficacy on the relationship between family social networks and personal recovery among Chinese people with mental illness in Hong Kong. Methods: One hundred and twenty-five Chinese adults with mental illness from community mental health centers in Hong Kong were recruited for this study. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Results: Study results indicated that a large family network size was indirectly related to high levels of personal recovery through high self-efficacy. High perceived family support was directly related to high levels of personal recovery. In addition, high family criticalness was related to low levels of personal recovery directly and indirectly through low self-esteem. Conclusions and Implications for Practice: These findings suggest that using a family approach to enhance individuals' self-esteem and self-efficacy might promote personal recovery among people with mental illness in the Chinese context. Impact and Implications: This study found that family network size is indirectly related to personal recovery, via the effect of self-efficacy. Self-esteem mediates the relationship between family criticalness and personal recovery. Study findings underscore the importance of incorporating strategies to enhance self-esteem and self-efficacy into family interventions aiming to promote personal recovery among people with mental illness in the Chinese context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recovery-oriented, strengths-based intervention engages service users' strengths and resources to support their recovery process. This model was developed in an American context and has been applied in Hong Kong. It is important to formulate an understanding of strengths better fit to Hong Kong Chinese. Aims: This exploratory qualitative study examined Hong Kong Chinese service users' views on strengths and preferred translation for the word strengths, along with its cultural nuances. Method: Twenty-six people with serious mental illnesses were individually interviewed at a mental health center in Hong Kong, based on a photo-elicitation technique and reflection on Chinese terms related to strengths. Analysis of data employed the constant comparative method. Results: Participants reported that social factors, such as support by helping professionals and engagement in family roles, as well as spiritual beliefs and practices, are important for recovery. These insights and their preferred translations of strengths generate a culturally nuanced understanding of strengths. Conclusions & Implications for Practice: The strengths model applied in Hong Kong can be enhanced by a more culturally nuanced perspective, for example, including the importance of family-based identity and filial piety, beliefs related to harmony and fate, and practices such as a temple or church attendance. Impact and Implications: This study investigates how Hong Kong Chinese people view strengths in facilitating recovery from mental illnesses. The term "strengths" in recovery was deemed synonymous with the terms ability (néng lì; 能力) and expertise (zhuān cháng; 專長) in Chinese. This study sheds light on how Chinese conceptualizations of "strengths" in recovery may be applied in interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]