And Then I Lost That Life: A Shared Narrative of Four Young Men with Schizophrenia

Abstract

A qualitative research study was conducted to explore the occupational needs and interests of young men, aged 18–30 years, who had been diagnosed with schizophrenia. Four men participated in two focus groups and described their daily occupations, both before and after diagnosis. The constant comparative method of data analysis was used to generate the categories inductively, yielding several common themes and stories. A shared narrative was subsequently identified, which best reflected the collective lost dreams, disruptions and losses resulting from a diagnosis of schizophrenia. The chapters of the participants' narrative describe a common struggle of attempting to rebuild lives in spite of persistent perceived barriers. The research sheds light upon the use of occupation in assisting young men to reclaim lost dreams and lives, as well as upon the impact of diagnosis on occupational engagement.