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Open Access 01-12-2021 | Schizophrenia | Research article

Gender difference in quality of life (QoL) among outpatients with schizophrenia in a tertiary care setting

Authors: Saleha Shafie, Ellaisha Samari, Anitha Jeyagurunathan, Edimansyah Abdin, Sherilyn Chang, Siow Ann Chong, Mythily Subramaniam

Published in: BMC Psychiatry | Issue 1/2021

Abstract

Background

Patients with mental illness report lower quality of life (QoL) compared to the general population. Prior research has found several differences in clinical features and experiences of male and female patients with schizophrenia. Given these differences, it is also important to explore if there are any gender differences in terms of their QoL. This study aimed to investigate differences in QoL between and within each gender among outpatients with schizophrenia in Singapore.

Methods

A total of 140 outpatients were recruited through convenience sampling at the Institute of Mental Health, Singapore. QoL was measured using the brief version of World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) which consists of four domains: physical health, psychological health, social relationships, and environment. QoL scores of males and females were compared using independent t-tests, and multiple linear regressions were used to examine sociodemographic correlates of QoL in the overall sample and within each gender.

Results

There was no significant difference in QoL domain scores between genders. Among males, Indian ethnicity (versus Chinese ethnicity) was positively associated with physical health (β=3.03, p=0.018) while males having Technical Education/ Diploma/ A level education (versus Degree and above) were positively associated with social relationships domain (β=2.46, p=0.047).

Among females, Malay ethnicity (versus Chinese ethnicity) was positively associated with physical health (β=1.95, p=0.026) psychological health (β=3.21, p=0.001) social relationships (β=2.17, p=0.048) and environment (β=2.69, p=0.006) domains, while females who were separated/divorced (versus single) were inversely associated with psychological health (β=− 2.80, p=0.044) and social relationships domains (β=− 4.33, p=0.011). Females who had Secondary and below education (versus Degree and above) were inversely associated with social relationships (β=− 2.29, p=0.028) and environment domains (β=− 1.79, p=0.048).

Conclusions

The findings show the importance of treatments targeting QoL to attend to both the clinical features of the illness as well patient’s sociodemographic characteristics.

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Title: Gender difference in quality of life (QoL) among outpatients with schizophrenia in a tertiary care setting
Authors: Saleha Shafie
Ellaisha Samari
Anitha Jeyagurunathan
Edimansyah Abdin
Sherilyn Chang
Siow Ann Chong
Mythily Subramaniam
Publication date: 01-12-2021
Publisher: BioMed Central
Keyword: Schizophrenia
Published in: BMC Psychiatry / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 1471-244X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-021-03051-2

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Gender difference in quality of life (QoL) among outpatients with schizophrenia in a tertiary care setting

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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