Dual Change Model of Life-Satisfaction and Psychosocial Functioning for Individuals with Schizophrenia receiving services

Purpose: This study examined the relationship between life satisfaction and psychosocial functioning over time in individuals with schizophrenia receiving community-based services. Despite the prevailing notion that increases in functioning should be associated with increases in life satisfaction, previous studies have generally found no association between the two (e,g., Brekke & Long, 2000). This study was the first to examine dual change models of global and specific life satisfaction and psychosocial functioning domains over time.

Method: The sample of 145 individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia was followed prospectively for twelve months, with three observation points. The Satisfaction with Life Scale measured satisfaction with living situation, work, socialization, self/present life. The Role Functioning Scale was used to measure work, social, and independent living functioning. Data were analyzed using latent growth curve modeling.

Results and Conclusions: Improvement in global life-satisfaction was significantly associated with improvement in global functioning over time (&beta=0.125,p<0.001;RMSEA=0.00). Concerning specific domains, satisfaction with living situation improved as independent living functioning improved (&beta=0.015,p<0.001;RMSEA=0.09), with the same occurring between satisfaction with social relationships and social functioning (&beta=0.02,p<0.001;RMSEA=0.07). However, satisfaction with work did not improve as work functioning improved over time. Improvements in global life satisfaction and global functioning are linked over time; however this linkage varies based on the specific outcome and satisfaction domains. This suggests that psychosocial interventions should provide outcome-specific services in order to improve life satisfaction in specific domains. The link between the observable functional outcomes and subjective life satisfaction contributes to a recovery-based orientation to rehabilitative interventions for schizophrenia.