Living with Schizophrenia: the role of interpersonal relationships

Abstract

People with a chronic condition such as schizophrenia encounter significant challenges interacting with their immediate environment. However, there is little data exploring interpersonal relationships between people living with schizophrenia and their families and healthcare providers, particularly in developing countries. This study investigated the interpersonal relationship experiences of persons with schizophrenia in Southern Ghana. The study adopted a descriptive phenomenological approach using the purposive sampling technique to recruit nine (9) persons living with schizophrenia. Data were collected using semi-structured in-depth, face-to-face interviews and analysed using a descriptive phenomenological data analysis framework. Five themes emerged; three described positive interpersonal relationships, and two negative interpersonal relationships existed in participants with schizophrenia. The study revealed a poor interpersonal relationship between study participants and the public. Stigma was implicated as a factor responsible for the negative interpersonal relationships between study participants and people outside their immediate families.