Objectives: Marriage experience may differ from the general population for patients with schizophrenia. In this study, the experience of marriage for patients with schizophrenia was explored. Methods: This qualitative narrative study was conducted with patients from mental health centers in the cities of Jenin, Nablus, and Tulkarm in the Palestinian West Bank. 30 patients with schizophrenia who participated in the study were recruited using the convenience sampling technique. Results: Five themes emerged while exploring the marriage experience of patients: (1) experience of marriage, (2) gender and age, (3) stigma, (4) having children, and (5) family and community on planning the patient's life. Results showed that males were significantly more likely to get married than females. The only difference we found was a diminished feeling of responsibility among older patients with schizophrenia, as their children cared for them. Conclusion: Marriage is often not viewed as a human right for patients with schizophrenia. However, we found that marriage experience can improve patient recovery, that having children may help the patients be better in their recovery process, and that most of them encouraged others to do the same and get married.

Keywords: Schizophrenia, Marriage, Single, Recovery process, Divorce.

Title

concurrent disorder society

Publisher

An-Najah National University

Publisher Country

Palestine

Publication Type

Prtinted only

Volume

--

Year

6

Pages

9