Functional Disability and Loneliness Among Clinically Stable Individuals with Schizophrenia: A Cross-sectional Study

Functional disability and loneliness frequently persist among clinically stable individuals with schizophrenia, thereby impeding recovery and restricting social participation.

This study assessed functional disability and loneliness in clinically stable individuals with schizophrenia and to examine their associations with socio-demographic variables and employment status.

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 50 clinically stable individuals with schizophrenia, aged 18 to 60 years. Data were collected using socio-demographic schedule, the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0), and the UCLA Loneliness Scale.

The mean loneliness and WHODAS scores were 43.16 ± 11.96 and 74.28 ± 14.65, respectively. No significant differences were observed by gender or domicile. Participants from joint families showed higher disability in self-care (p = .005), household activities (p = .041), and participation (p = .007). Duration of unemployment was positively correlated with disability (r = 0.311-0.517, p < .05), whereas employment duration was negatively correlated with disability in interpersonal, work, and participation domains.

Unemployment and joint family dynamics are associated with increased disability, underscoring the importance of vocational rehabilitation and family-focused psychosocial interventions.