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Quality of Life, Gender and Schizophrenia: A Cross-National Survey in Canada, Cuba, and U.S.A.

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Abstract

Although gender differences in schizophrenicsymptom expression have been widely established, nosystematic studies have documented if these differencesextend to the perception of quality of life. This survey gathered international data on theperception of quality of life among 102 outpatient menand women with schizophrenia from Canada, Cuba, and theUnited States. Using portions of Lehman's Quality of Life Interview, quality of life was assessedon the domains of social relationships, health, livingsituation, leisure, finances and general quality oflife. Gender differences were tested with ANOVA where site was treated as a nested variable andseparate t-tests comparing men and women within eachcountry. Although no differences were found for thecombined sample, differences were observed between men and women in Canada and Cuba on the socialrelationship domain. In Canada, women with schizophreniareported a higher quality of life for socialrelationships. In contrast, Cuban men with schizophrenia reported higher quality of life for socialrelationships than Cuban women. Findings from the threesites show no differences for the other domains. Withthe possible exception of social relationships, these findings suggest no discernable differences inthe perception of quality of life for men and women withschizophrenia. Overall, men and women with schizophreniawere only somewhat satisfied with some aspects oflife.

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Authors
  1. Vikki L. Vandiver
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Vandiver, V.L. Quality of Life, Gender and Schizophrenia: A Cross-National Survey in Canada, Cuba, and U.S.A.. Community Ment Health J 34, 501–511 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018742513643

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