Levels and Correlates of Disability in Life Skills among Patients with Schizophrenia

Abstract

Background: Schizophrenia is a severe mental disability disorder that affects all life aspects, including life functioning, general well-being, and overall life skills resulting in prominent impairments in life functioning. Objectives: The objective of the study was to assess life skills and disabilities and its correlates among Jordanian patients with schizophrenia. Methods: A cross-sectional correlational design was used. A convenience sampling technique was used to recruit 250 hospitalized patients with schizophrenia. Data were collected using a questionnaire that consisted of demographic variables, Life Skills Profile, Global Assessment of Functioning, and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. Results: The level of disability in life skills was 89.23. The highest disability level was observed in social contact and in communication domains, and the lowest level was in the responsibility domain. The disability levels regarding family history of psychiatric illness, marital and employment status, and the number of previous hospitalizations were statistically different (p < .05). The presence of negative symptoms, global assessment of functioning, psychopathology symptoms, duration of treatment, and positive symptoms were identified as predictors of the disability in life skills and accounted for 65% of the total variance. Conclusions: Planning and conducting life skills programs that help enhance the communication and social interaction are required to improve life skills.