Living with family discord: a qualitative exploration of anxiety experiences

Abstract

Purpose: to explore anxiety experiences among individuals experiencing family disharmony, focusing on emotional manifestations, family-related triggers, impacts on everyday life, and coping strategies.

Method: this study used a descriptive qualitative approach with three participants selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and non-participant observation, then analyzed using thematic analysis to identify patterns and themes related to participants' anxiety experiences.

Findings: revealed that anxiety associated with family disharmony manifested as fear, persistent worry, restlessness, and emotional insecurity. These experiences affected participants' academic concentration, emotional well-being, sleep, and social interactions. Participants used various coping strategies, including emotional expression, personal activities, conflict avoidance, and seeking social support.

Implications: the findings highlight the importance of emotional support, healthy family communication, and appropriate coping strategies in addressing anxiety associated with family disharmony. They may also inform the development of more sensitive psychological counselling and support services for individuals experiencing family-related distress.

Originality: in-depth exploration of the diverse ways individuals experience and respond to family disharmony, highlighting the interconnected dimensions of emotional responses, perceived family conflict, psychological impacts, and individual coping mechanisms through personal narratives.