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The costs of friendship : severe mental illness, poverty and social isolation

Topor, Alain ; Ljungqvist, Ingemar and Strandberg, Eva Lena LU (2016) In Psychosis 8(4). p.336-345
Abstract

Background: The relationship between severe mental illness, poverty and social isolation has been explored in a number of studies. Aim: The purpose of the study was to explore the relationship between financial strain and social isolation. Methods: Sixteen persons with severe mental illness were interviewed about their experience of having a severe mental illness, living in poverty and the effect these circumstances had on their social relationships. The interviews were analysed according to thematic analysis. Results: The overarching theme was “the cost of having friends”; it consisted of five categories: the loss of friends; making do without friends; dependence on friends and family; supported socialisation; and money as an aid to... (More)

Background: The relationship between severe mental illness, poverty and social isolation has been explored in a number of studies. Aim: The purpose of the study was to explore the relationship between financial strain and social isolation. Methods: Sixteen persons with severe mental illness were interviewed about their experience of having a severe mental illness, living in poverty and the effect these circumstances had on their social relationships. The interviews were analysed according to thematic analysis. Results: The overarching theme was “the cost of having friends”; it consisted of five categories: the loss of friends; making do without friends; dependence on friends and family; supported socialisation; and money as an aid to recovery. The participants experienced a connection between their financial circumstances, their social relationships and their lack of initiative in maintaining and developing a social network. Conclusions: The results underline the importance of considering the person in his/her social context in order to avoid the risk of interpreting rational strategies for coping as psychiatric symptoms.

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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
poverty, Severe mental illness, social intervention, social isolation, supported socialization
in
Psychosis
volume
8
issue
4
pages
336 - 345
publisher
Routledge
external identifiers
  • scopus:84969749551
  • wos:000386135400005
ISSN
1752-2439
DOI
10.1080/17522439.2016.1167947
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
8532d614-40b0-4229-9b02-5e5dfe065563
date added to LUP
2016-06-17 15:58:30
date last changed
2024-10-04 21:34:14
@article{8532d614-40b0-4229-9b02-5e5dfe065563,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background: The relationship between severe mental illness, poverty and social isolation has been explored in a number of studies. Aim: The purpose of the study was to explore the relationship between financial strain and social isolation. Methods: Sixteen persons with severe mental illness were interviewed about their experience of having a severe mental illness, living in poverty and the effect these circumstances had on their social relationships. The interviews were analysed according to thematic analysis. Results: The overarching theme was “the cost of having friends”; it consisted of five categories: the loss of friends; making do without friends; dependence on friends and family; supported socialisation; and money as an aid to recovery. The participants experienced a connection between their financial circumstances, their social relationships and their lack of initiative in maintaining and developing a social network. Conclusions: The results underline the importance of considering the person in his/her social context in order to avoid the risk of interpreting rational strategies for coping as psychiatric symptoms.</p>}},
  author       = {{Topor, Alain and Ljungqvist, Ingemar and Strandberg, Eva Lena}},
  issn         = {{1752-2439}},
  keywords     = {{poverty; Severe mental illness; social intervention; social isolation; supported socialization}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{336--345}},
  publisher    = {{Routledge}},
  series       = {{Psychosis}},
  title        = {{The costs of friendship : severe mental illness, poverty and social isolation}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17522439.2016.1167947}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/17522439.2016.1167947}},
  volume       = {{8}},
  year         = {{2016}},
}