Examination of internalized stigma, quality of life, and happiness in patients with schizophrenia

Kayaoğlu K., Ay E.

JOURNAL OF MENTAL HEALTH, cilt.33, sa.1, ss.101-109, 2023 (SSCI) identifier identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 33 Sayı: 1
  • Basım Tarihi: 2023
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1080/09638237.2023.2278096
  • Dergi Adı: JOURNAL OF MENTAL HEALTH
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, ASSIA, CINAHL, Educational research abstracts (ERA), MEDLINE, Public Affairs Index, Social services abstracts, Sociological abstracts
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.101-109
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Happiness, internalized stigmatization, quality of life, schizophrenia
  • Atatürk Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

BackgroundHappiness in patients with schizophrenia is a neglected concept that needs to be developed. Determining the relationship between internalized stigma, quality of life, and happiness, which is important for the prognosis of schizophrenia, will reveal why it is necessary to focus on activities that will increase happiness in patients with schizophrenia.AimThis study aimed to compare the levels of internalized stigma, quality of life, and happiness in patients with schizophrenia.MethodsA descriptive and correlational research design was used. The research population consisted of patients who applied to the psychiatry outpatient clinic of a hospital in eastern Turkey during the research period and were diagnosed with schizophrenia according to the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria; 87 voluntary patients who agreed to participate in the study constituted the research sample. A personal information form, the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale (ISMI), the World Health Organization Quality-of-Life Scale (WHOQOL-BREF), and the Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS) were used for data collection.ResultsAccording to the patients' ISMI, WHOQOL-BREF-TR, and SHS scores, patients perceived internalized stigma above the moderate level in all sub-dimensions. In general, their quality of life was moderate (the highest mean score was on the national environment domain and the lowest mean score was on the social domain); the mean SHS score was 13.02 +/- 5.53. There was a strong and negative correlation between the mean SHS score and the total ISMI score and a strong and positive correlation between SHS and the physical, mental, social, and national environment domains of WHOQOL-BREF-TR.ConclusionsIt was determined that the mean internal stigma score of the patients decreased and their mean quality of life score increased as their mean subjective happiness score increased. It is recommended clinical studies be carried out to increase happiness in patients with schizophrenia.