Coping Strategies in Aymara Caregivers of Patients with Schizophrenia

Deinstitutionalization has forced families of patients with schizophrenia to take responsibility of informal care, without
having the tools to exert their role properly. The aim of this study was to evaluate the coping strategies of caregivers of
patients with schizophrenia, belonging to the Aymara ethnic group, (aborigines who are located on the highlands of Northern
Chile). The studied sample comprised 45 caregivers of patients with schizophrenia users of the Mental Health Service of Arica,
Chile. The results from the Family Coping Questionnaire (FCQ) show that both, Aymara and non-Aymara caregivers use the same
coping strategies except for spiritual help which is more likely to be used by Aymara. This strategy might be related with
the worldview they possess, thus the relation with the deities has a meaningful importance in the way of explaining and coping
with different phenomena.