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

Abstract

Background

Happiness 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.

Aim

This study aimed to compare the levels of internalized stigma, quality of life, and happiness in patients with schizophrenia.

Methods

A 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.

Results

According 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.

Conclusions

It 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.

Keywords:

• Happiness
• internalized stigmatization
• quality of life
• schizophrenia

Acknowledgment

None. No external or intramural funding was received.

Note: The study was approved by the Malatya Turgut Ozal University Non-Interventional Studies Ethics Committee (Decision no: 2022/50).

Author contributions

Study conception/design; Kübra KAYAOĞLU, Eda AY. Data collection/analysis; Kübra KAYAOĞLU, Eda AY. Drafting of manuscript; Kübra KAYAOĞLU, Eda AY. Critical revisions for important intellectual content; supervision; Kübra KAYAOĞLU, Statistical expertise; Eda AY. Administrative/technical/material support; Kübra KAYAOĞLU, Eda AY.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.