مؤلفه‌های تاب‌آوری خانواده در مراقبت از سالمندان مبتلا به اختلالات شناختی: یک مطالعه فراترکیب از پژوهش‌های کیفی

ابوالفضل امینیان; محسن محمدی; نوشین پردلان

Authors

Abolfazl Aminian Department of Counseling, SR.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. Author
Mohsen Mohammadi Department of Counseling, NT.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
Nooshin Pordelan Department of Counseling, SR.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. Author

Keywords:

Family resilience, Cognitive disorders, Family caregiving, Older adults, Meta synthesis

Abstract

Introduction and Aim: Cognitive disorders in older adults, owing to their chronic and progressive nature, impose considerable psychological, social, economic, and caregiving pressures on families; nevertheless, some families successfully mobilize internal and external resources to preserve cohesion, maintain functioning, and adapt to changing circumstances. This study aimed to identify, synthesize, and develop a conceptual framework for the components of family resilience in caring for older adults with cognitive disorders.

Methodology: This qualitative study employed a meta-synthesis design based on the seven-step method proposed by Sandelowski and Barroso. Persian- and English-language qualitative studies published between 2015 and 2026 were identified through systematic searches of national and international scientific databases. Following screening according to predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria and methodological quality appraisal using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklist, 23 studies, including 14 English-language and nine Persian-language articles, were included in the final synthesis. The findings were coded, compared, and integrated using Braun and Clarke’s six-phase thematic analysis. To assess coding reliability, a proportion of the extracted codes was independently reviewed, producing a Cohen’s kappa coefficient of 0.82.

Findings: The synthesis indicated that family resilience was organized into three overarching themes: cognitive-belief components, structural-functional components, and communicative-interactional components. Cognitive-belief components comprised meaning-making in response to crisis, positive outlook and hope, spiritual and religious beliefs, acceptance of the illness, family hardiness and commitment, and personal growth. Structural-functional components included flexibility in family roles and routines, family cohesion and connectedness, utilization of formal and informal support resources, effective management of symptoms and behaviors, caregiver self-care, and systematic care planning. Communicative-interactional components encompassed effective information exchange, constructive emotional expression, collaborative problem-solving, empathy, professional counseling, and purposeful family dialogue.

Conclusion: Family resilience in caring for older adults with cognitive disorders is not a fixed or exclusively individual characteristic; rather, it is a dynamic, multidimensional, and relational process arising from the interaction of shared belief systems, flexible family organization, and constructive communication. The proposed framework can inform the development of family-centered interventions, caregiver education programs, culturally appropriate assessment instruments, and supportive aging policies adapted to diverse sociocultural contexts.

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