Social Satisfaction and Living Alone: Predictors of Self-Perception of Mental Health Improvement After Psychosis

Abstract

Abstract Background Psychosis recovery can accompany social and self-stigma for the survivor, which can interfere with the person reaching their personal recovery goals. We hypothesized that there would be a strong association between social satisfaction and self-perceived mental health improvement, and that living alone would be a risk factor to self-perceived improvement. Study Design Our strengths-based quantitative study aims to identify the most important factors to psychosis survivors for their mental health recovery. Survey responses from wave 5 of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) study were used, specifically from those who self-identified as psychosis survivors (n = 710), analyzing the association between self-reported mental health symptoms, social satisfaction changes in the last year, living alone, and demographic variables, with self-reported mental health recovery in the last year. Study Results Ordinary least squares regression analysis revealed three predictors of self-reported mental health improvement for psychosis survivors: social satisfaction, living alone, and lower anxiety. As hypothesized, social satisfaction was the largest determinant in self-perceived mental health improvement, but contrary to our hypothesis, living alone was a protective factor. Conclusion Prioritizing social satisfaction over group living environments for people recovering after psychosis.