Social support and adaptation of Taiwanese adults with mental illness

Abstract

The present study examined the relationships among contextual factors, dimensions of social support, adaptations and psychiatric symptoms among mentally ill Taiwanese adults in a mental health hospital in southern Taiwan. In addition, this study tested the effect of the dimensions of social support on adaptation as well as whether social support moderated the relationship between psychiatric symptoms and adaptation. Social support enhances an individual's ability to cope and adapt to daily life events and stressors. Although the relationships among social support, stress and adaptation have been widely studied in the general population, little is known among individuals with mental illness, especially in Taiwan. A cross-sectional, descriptive correlation design was used. The sample consisted of 129 adults, ranging in age from 21-67, who were diagnosed with a major mental illness (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, manic depression or organic mental disorder) and who could communicate in Chinese or Taiwanese. A demographic information sheet, the Interpersonal Support Evaluation List (ISEL), the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and the Life Skills Profile (LSP), were used to collect data. Data were analysed with Pearson's correlation and multiple regressions. The findings suggest that individuals who were older, male, independent and had higher education, a shorter duration of mental illness and fewer psychiatric symptoms had higher life skills. Three dimensions of social support (belonging, tangible and self-esteem) moderated the relationship between psychiatric symptoms and number of hospitalisations. Life skills and social support play important roles in the adaptation of Taiwanese adults with mental illness in the community as well as in decreasing their psychiatric symptoms and number of hospitalisations. The findings have implications for Taiwanese clinical nurses who provide care to mentally ill patients and their family. They can provide psycho-education programs to teach life skills to mentally ill patients. Clinical nurses can also provide positive feedback on the behaviours displayed by mentally ill patients and assist them to develop better life skills to adapt to the community.