Exploring the Experience of Loneliness among People Living with Schizophrenia: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Background: People living with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder are at heightened risk for experiencing loneliness, which is associated with negative health, quality of life, and symptom-specific outcomes. Aims: This study aimed to better understand the experience of loneliness among adults living with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Methods: Using a semi-structured interview guide, researchers interviewed twelve participants living with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Interview topics included the contexts of loneliness, hopes related to living a life less impacted by loneliness, and coping strategies. Researchers used conventional content analysis to analyze interview data and generate themes. Results: The research team identified four themes from the interview data: emotional disconnection, social anxiety leading to loneliness, unmet needs within social networks, and lacking companionship. Participants had a variety of hopes for the future, including increasing the quality of their relationships and improving their sense of self-efficacy. Participants described a variety of coping strategies, ranging from individual (e.g. leveraging technology, using cognitive reframing techniques) to systems-level (e.g. local clubhouses and walkable neighborhoods). Conclusions: Participants have identified several priorities and coping strategies to reduce loneliness that can be integrated with current models of loneliness to develop interventions that are meaningful and effective for this population.