title: Correlational study: illness representations and coping styles in caregivers for individuals with schizophrenia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Caring for individuals with schizophrenia can create distress for caregivers which can, in turn, have a harmful impact on patient progress. There could be a better understanding of the connections between caregivers' representations of schizophrenia and coping styles. This study aims at exploring those connections.
  
  
  METHODS
  This correlational descriptive study was conducted with 92 caregivers of individuals suffering from schizophrenia. The participants completed three questionnaires translated and validated in French: (a) a socio-demographic questionnaire, (b) the Illness Perception Questionnaire for Schizophrenia and (c) the Family Coping Questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results show that illness representations are slightly correlated with coping styles. More specifically, emotional representations are correlated to an emotion-focused coping style centred on coercion, avoidance and resignation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results are coherent with the Commonsense Model of Self-Regulation of Health and Illness and should enable to develop new interventions for caregivers.
authors.affiliation: Community Psychiatry Service, Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Centre of Vaud, Site de Cery, Prilly, 1008, Switzerland. shyhrete.hasani@chuv.ch.
authors.forename: Shyhrete
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rexhaj
authors.forename: Nataly Viens
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Python
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Morin
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bonsack
authors.forename: Jérôme
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Favrod