Background: The emotional and instrumental supports generated by social and familial networks for persons with schizophrenia are important for their potential buffering role in the course and outcome of the illness. Little is known about ethnic differences in social networks and service use among American ethnic groups with schizophrenia and how social support networks can be incorporated into the rehabilitative process. Design/Methods: The sample, from the San Diego site of the Schizophrenia Care and Assessment Project (SD-SCAP), consists of 400 persons diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorder in an ethnically diverse population (26% African-American, 17% Latino, and 51% non-minority). The SD-SCAP site is part of an ongoing longitudinal initiative to examine the course of schizophrenia treatment across six study sites in the U.S. Participants were interviewed by trained research assistants using the SCAP instrument, which assess comprehensive clinical, functional, and social domains. Pending complete baseline data, cross-ethnic analyses will explore and describe social network characteristics, including frequency of social contacts and extent of social network. Results: Preliminary data analysis on living situation showed that 43% of non-minorities lived with family compared to 51% of African-Americans, and 72% of Latinos. The results to be presented will reflect the cross-ethnic composition and characteristics of social networks consisting of familial, social and provider systems. Conclusions: The results will enhance our understanding of the role of social and collateral supports available to ethnically diverse groups with schizophrenia.
Learning Objectives: To examine cross-ethnic differences among 400 participants with schizophrenia, the type of services used and their relationship to social network characteristics
Keywords: Ethnic Minorities, Sever Mental Illness
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.