Access of Discharged Schizophrenia Patients to Employment and Association Memberships in Turkey

Patients with schizophrenia can experience a deteriorated performance in many of the skills needed in daily life, the workplace, the family circle, or in social interactions. This definitive study used comparison to evaluate the functionality, treatment compliance to therapy, and styles of coping with stress of schizophrenic patients who work and are members of an association. The individuals participating in this study were divided into four groups. Group 1 were members of an association and employed; Group 2 were members of an association and unemployed; Group 3 comprised non-members who were employed; and group 4 were non-members and unemployed. A total of 60 patients (15 in each group) comprised the sample. Data was collected by means of the Individual Information Form, the Adaptation Rate Scale for Medical Therapy, the Functional Recovery Scale in Schizophrenia Patients, and the Scale for Coping with Stress. Statistical analyses and interpretations were conducted using frequency and percentage, t test, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) to assess the data. It was observed that being a member of an association and working at a job affected the social and occupational functionalities in schizophrenia patients participating in the study, but the styles of therapy adaptation and coping with stress did not affect these areas. Results indicated that the use of current antipsychotic drugs did not affect functional areas, therapy adaptation, or styles of coping with stress.