The Role of Social Support and Self-stigmatization in Meaning of Life in Individuals with Schizophrenia

Shizofrenija je jedan od kompleksnih psihičkih poremećaja koji utječe na sve domene čovjekova života. Stjecanjem uvida da boluju od progresivne bolesti, oboljeli od shizofrenije mogu izgubiti svrhu i smisao života koji općenito ima ulogu u dobrom mentalnom zdravlju, zadovoljstvu života, psihološkoj dobrobiti (Zika i Chamberlain, 1992), ali i oporavku od mentalne bolesti (Or i sur., 2013). Istraživanja izvora smisla života oboljelih od shizofrenije navode kako je socijalan kontakt i podrška bližnjih jedan od važnijih izvora koji pridonose smislenosti života (Eklund i sur., 2012; Volkert i sur., 2014). Suprotno tome, stigma s kojom se oboljeli suočavaju te samostigmatizacija kao rezultat prihvaćanje stigme, povezana je s brojnim nepovoljnim psihosocijalnim čimbenicima pa tako i manjim smislom života (Hasson-Ohayon i sur., 2014). Cilj ovoga rada bio je ispitati odnos socijalne podrške, samostigmatizacije i smisla života oboljelih od shizofrenije. U istraživanju je sudjelovalo 69 osoba oboljelih od shizofrenije. Sudionici su ispunili Skalu smisla života (Purpose In Life Test, PIL; Crumbaugh i Maholick, 1964), Skalu socijalne podrške (Scales of Perceived Social Support, SPSS; Macdonald, 1998), Skalu samostigmatizacije (Internalized Stigma of Mental Illnes Scale, ISMI; Ritsher i sur., 2003) i Upitnik općih podataka. Rezultati su pokazali kako postoji statistički značajna umjerena pozitivna povezanost socijalne podrške obitelji i smisla života kao i značajna umjerena pozitivna povezanost socijalna podrške prijatelja i smisla života oboljelih od shizofrenije. Također, postoji statistički značajna visoka negativna povezanost samostigmatizacije i smisla života oboljelih od shizofrenije. Hijerarhijska regresijska analiza pokazala je kako su samostigmatizacija i trajanje bolesti značajni prediktori smisla života pri čemu viša samostigmatizacija i dulje trajanje bolesti doprinose manjem smislu života oboljelih od shizofrenije.Schizophrenia is a complex mental disorder that affects all domains of a person's life. Upon gaining insight into their progressive illness, individuals with schizophrenia may lose purpose and meaning in life, which generally play a role in good mental health, life satisfaction, and psychological well-being (Zika and Chamberlain, 1992), as well as in recovery from mental illness (Or et al., 2013). Studies on the sources of meaning in the lives of people with schizophrenia indicate that social contact and support from loved ones are among the important sources contributing to a sense of meaningfulness in life (Eklund et al., 2012; Volkert et al., 2014).On the opposite, the stigma faced by those with the illness and self-stigmatization resulting from accepting that stigma are associated with various unfavorable psychosocial factors, including a diminished sense of meaning in life (Hasson-Ohayon et al., 2014). The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between social support, self-stigmatization, and meaning in life in individuals with schizophrenia. The study involved 69 participants diagnosed with schizophrenia. The participants completed Purpose In Life Test (PIL; Crumbaugh and Maholick, 1964), Scales of Perceived Social Support (SPSS; Macdonald, 1998), Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale (ISMI; Ritsher et al., 2003) and General Data Questionnaire. The results showed a statistically significant moderate positive correlation between social support from family and the meaning in life, as well as a significant moderate positive correlation between social support from friends and the meaning in life in individuals with schizophrenia. Also, there is a statistically significant high negative correlation between self-stigmatization and the meaning in life in individuals with schizophrenia. Hierarchical regression analysis showed that self-stigmatization and illness duration were significant predictors of meaning in life, where higher self-stigmatization and longer illness duration contribute to a lower meaning in life in individuals with schizophrenia